I wish I was a beauty girl! The sad truth is (since I end up spending most of my frivolous funds on clothes and things for the house), my beauty bag is seriously left wanting. There are a few things I swear by (I'll  buy Big Shampoo by Lush forever) but I'm not really loving my current drugstore beauty situation... time to trade up!

Aesop Purifying Cream Cleanser, Volumising Conditioner & Fabulous Face Oil - It seems that everyone loves Aesop products (and with that gorgeously minimal packaging, who wouldn't?) and I must be he last one to give them a try. A few new facial products and a conditioner that won't weigh my hair down sound like the perfect things to test out.

Grown Alchemist Body Cream & Treatment Serum - Grown Alchemist is another brand that all of my favorite bloggers are recommending all of a sudden. Again, I can't help but think that beautiful packaging is to blame but I'm definitely a label savvy shopper. If something doesn't look good in my medicine cabinet, I'm a little less likely to purchase... oops! Since my skin is going b-a-n-a-n-a-s lately (blame our crazy month on the road) I've got my eye on these two healing products.

Rodin Hand Cream - I've been wanting to try this luxurious hand cream for the longest time. Why not treat myself to something a little luxe?

NARS Illuminator - When it comes to cosmetics, I'm a die-hard NARS fan. Their Sheer Glow foundation is my holy grail product and I can always count on the brand for beautiful shades of everything. This Summer it's all about dewy and glistening skin... enter the illuminator. NARS claims that this glow-reflecting liquid will "light the skin from within". Now that's something I'm sure we can all get behind!

LUSH Big Shampoo - This gritty shampoo (it's made with sea salt and smells exactly like fresh laundry!) is basically my favorite thing ever. Even though Lush recommends using it as a deep cleanse once a week, I tend to wash my hair with it at least twice because it's just too good. Since I scrub my (rather long) strands everyday, they can get pretty limp weighed down quickly. This buildup-stripping product removes all of the styling residue and gives my hair just enough bounce to flip it around like Beyonce... it's a good thing.

shop my beauty picks

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It's been quite a while since I took part in Ashlyn + Kristin's four favorites link-up (I know, I'm a baaaad blogger) but I'm finally revisiting my favorite blog feature. Since this weekend is Memorial Day weekend (hello start to pool season, I've been waiting on you), it's high time to bring out the bathing suit I've been hiding away and a few more warm weather essentials. Mr. Jackson's birthday is on Monday so hopefully we'll spend the extra day celebrating and hanging in the sun.

Nine Space for J.Crew Beach Towel - I'm usually not one to tote a cute towel to the pool but it's definitely time to invest in something a little more chic than the bright beach towels we've had for years. Bonus: the classic stripes will never go out of style and this one's big enough to double as a beach blanket.

Saturday Fringe Sandals - I've seen these sandals everywhere lately and finally it hit me... they're adorable! I love the fun fringe detail and the soft brown shade is perfect for the transition from Spring to Summer.

J.Crew Cutout Suit - I picked up this suit while Lo and I were in DC and I'm so excited to finally bring it out and take a dip in the pool! The fit is super flattering and the interesting side cutouts keep the one-piece (a first for me) from looking matronly.

J.Crew Panama Hat - My panama hat is basically my best friend. I've been wearing it (and carrying it around... it's the best accessory) since picking it up in March. Since the sun is shining blazing now, I have a feeling I won't be leaving the house without it anytime soon.

link up your favorites

a few more favorites

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Sometimes words and pictures just can't do a trip justice. Since Lo and I were exploring DC last month, I thought it might be fun to bring you along for the ride as we strolled the streets and checked out the sights.

p.s. This is my first attempt at a video blog... if it's something I decide to do more frequently I'll definitely be brushing up on my skills. Do you have any advice?