A Latte Lipstick

Archives for June 2014

Those Needed Summer Vacations

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I’m about to leave for vacation and couldn’t be more excited! Time to let my hair down, throw my cares away, live it up and/or whatever other cliche phrases you can think of… I agree.

Colorado, here I come! Time to hike, raft, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors with my boyfriend Colton and his family.

But… the actual leaving part can be a challenge because of the daily stresses and unsolved problems you know you’re leaving behind. Not only saying goodbye to work and the usual responsibilities, you also have to say bye to the normal routine, which also makes me anxious. When did I become like this?! I wish I was more free-spirited and spontaneous in terms of my very planned out life, but I’m not. I can’t help but think about how it will affect my usual sleeping, eating, working out habits, or what if I pack when I’m in a different style mood than I’ll be when I arrive? No one wants to wear a loud print when they are feeling in a quiet mood, or wear bright red lips when they are feeling dark and mysterious! But you just have to Let it Go, Let it Go. If you didn’t start breaking out in song right then, we aren’t on the same page. 🙂

However, let me tell you (and me), life will go on fine without you and breaks are definitely healthy and necessary! Trust me, people would much prefer you taking a couple days off rather than a full blown, desks being turned over, pens being thrown, hair being pulled kind of thing. Ha. Break free of your usual responsibilities and then come back refreshed and ready to bring it! We all need to take breaks and travel.

After quite some time mulling over my clothing, makeup, accessories and trying to properly limit myself. I think that I have got it covered! Packing tips post to come…

My shoe assortment says it all. Don’t worry I didn’t end up bringing all of these!

Remembered my things I normally forget, you’re my witness. Glasses, charger, favorite lipstick, slippers, and my hair brush

Now that I’m packed, I’m ready to get out of here and live it up!!!!

I won’t be blogging this week so follow me on instagram @alattelipstick to see what I’m up to!

Are you going on a Summer Vacation??

Summer Reading List

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Summer and reading go hand in hand. They are two of my dearest friends.

Summer is the season to grab a book and enjoy some much needed patio time. Wine in reach. There is nothing more relaxing than reading a beautifully written novel during those quiet summer evenings. When I open a book, my life is put on hold and I am transported into another person’s story. I become completely engrossed and escape to another place. Ahhhh..

Below are my top 5 books that must make it onto my Summer’s Read List, although I hope to be reading much more than that! Too many books on my To-Be Read List unfortunately have not made the transition to my Read Listand I am making it a point to get more reading time in during these summer months.

Top 5 Summer Reading List:

  • Romance :: The Forgotten Garden
  • Health :: Wheat Belly
  • Mystery :: Missing You
  • Spiritual :: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
  • Light :: Wedding Night

What books are on your To-Be Read List?

Spicy Black Bean Dip

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I have officially purchased the best cookbook around! It’s called Clean Start by Terry Walters and I’m already obsessed. So happy that I found this book and must admit I have quickly become obsessed with this women and her healthy outlook on eating and living well.

“It’s simply about making healthy choices, one at a time, and doing the best that you can do, empowered with knowledge and motivated by intention.” – Terry Walters



Cooking is very therapeutic for me and I love reading these recipes and then creating these healthy dishes with fresh ingredients. Usually, I change it up a little to fit my own personal tastes.

Anything that calls for garlic, is quickly doubled when I make it! Beware friends, family, and vampires.

For a fun treat, I’m going to routinely create one recipe in this cookbook, then post the delicious pictures and tips for each recipe!

This week, I made the Spicy Black Bean Dip. Can I say yummmmm?!

The one thing I did learn was that black beans are unfortunately not very photogenic. But trust me, it was delicious! It’s a great alternative to other fatty dips. It still tastes like a naughty treat but is much better than spinach artichoke dip, chunky queso, etc. Would highly recommend bringing to a barbecue or grill party! It would pair great with these Chicken Tacos.

The one less than pleasant consequence to making this was a strange burning tingle inbetween my fingers! I added in some jalapeños to the recipe and the oils must have soaked into my fingers. Ouchy! Oh well, the taste was well worth it 🙂

Do you cook delicious new recipes more during the week or weekends?

Why You Need to Travel

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Traveling is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. Traveling helps to expand our minds and break ourselves out of our resting comfort zone. Traveling changes you.

Experience new cultures, new places, and new people. Challenge yourself by doing something that makes you uncomfortable. Expand your horizon. Grow, learn, travel.

Going to distant places can positively affect every aspect of your life. It teaches you how to fend for yourself and grow up. It teaches you about people and how we all ultimately want the same things. It teaches you to not take yourself so seriously. It teaches you how beautiful this world we live in is.

Adore this article and the rebuttal about girls who travel.

Top 4 Places I want to Travel

  • Spain
  • Belize
  • Australia
  • Greece

“If you reveal your secrets to the wind,
you should not blame the wind for
revealing them to the trees.”

Where do you want to travel next?

Top Trends and Essentials for Summer

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I have been simply overwhelmed with all of the adorable trends and styles for Summer. Where do you even begin? After much consideration I have created a list of summer essentials to have in your closet.

Top Summer Trends:
1. White
White is everywhere, everywhere. White pants, white jackets, white tanks, you name it. It’s no longer necessary to match your whites, creams, offwhites, whites all work together. You automatically look polished wearing white. Think Olivia Pope.

2. Bold Prints

Tropical and floral prints are back and bringin’ it. Spice up your summer wardrobe with a bright pink floral or even a bold snake print.

3. Texturized clothing
Perforated, punched, lazor cut, crochet. It’s all about the openness and light airy textures.

5 Items your Summer closet must have:
1. Cute coverup
Coverups are what I live in during the weekends in Summer. Throw it over a bikini, run errands, or lay around like a beach bum.

2. Comfortable summer wedges
Adore this shoe, it’s unbelievably comfortable. Can appear casual or dressy and gives just the right amount of height.

3. White jeans
It’s not summer until you’re wearing your white jeans. Bonus points for snake print 😉

4.High waisted/distressed shorts
This has come in strong and is not going anywhere. I’m loving the high waist pants to keey my waist line in check!

Favorite 2 outfits of the moment:

Casual:
1. Jeans – Joe’s
2. Cream Tank – Three Dot from R Meyers
3. Pearls – Had for years?
4. Wedges – Lucky Brand

Office:
1. Necklace – Betsey Johnson
2. White Blazer – Yoana Baraschi from R Meyers
3. Pink Trousers – Ecru from R Meyers
4. Wedges – Janice