Salt Hair, Don’t Care

my mom hated this candid photo, but I love it so much because they look so happy.

IMG_3179

IMG_3209

beach

Laguna beach

beach

beach

beach

wine

watermarc restaurant 

watermarc restaurant 

Beach or mountains?“, my mom asked my dad as we made the hike up the hill after watching last night’s gorgeous seaside sunset. “Beach. 100%”, my dad answered with no hesitation at all. “Same! Definitely beach”, I told them. “Nobody asked you, Mackenzie. We all already knew that one!”.

If I could live at the beach every day, salt in my hair, watching a gorgeous sunset every evening, I would be the world’s most content human-being. I am so thankful for summer nights spent with views of the ocean and great conversations with my favorite people.

P.S. how cute are my parents?! #goals

xoxo,

Mackenzie

Spotted by the Sea

Hello friends & happy Sunday (wait, is it Sunday already? Weekends fly by so quickly). This weekend, I am with my family in Laguna beach to celebrate the 4th of July! We spent our first day here catching some rays and enjoying margaritas. It’s been a month since I have seen my parents, so it’s always nice getting to spend quality time with them & catching up!

I hope you’re having a fantastic weekend! Let me know what your plans are for the holiday weekend.

xoxo,
Mackenzie

Sweet Summer Days with Modcloth x ShopStyle

Ahh summertime. Days filled with spontaneous road-trips, fresh strawberries, breezy maxi dresses, and sassy pool-side gems. If summer lasted forever, I would be one happy girl. I wish these warm days never had to end. During summertime, I love to stock up on easy-to-throw-on frocks and statement steals (can we swoon over this circle beach towel for 5 seconds?!). I personally think this gorgeous, red and blue maxi dress would be perfect for any summer night occasion. It’s incredibly flattering and comfy, and people were asking all day where I got it. Upcoming Fourth of July BBQ? You definitely can not go wrong with an easy graphic tank paired with little shorts. I love how my sister, Alexandra, knotted the tank at the waist for a laid back look! As for beachwear, I am all about the one-piece trend. This graphic one is perfect for your next vacay or lake-day getaway!

modcloth

red/blue floral maxi dress

modcloth

modcloth

modcloth

‘desert highway’ graphic tank

modcloth

modcloth

modcloth

modcloth

modcloth

modcloth

watermelon beach ball (on sale) // beach towel

modcloth

watermelon beach ball (on sale) // printed beach towel

modclothmodcloth

modcloth

‘sun seeker’ one piece swimsuit (size small)

modcloth

modcloth

printed beach towel

modcloth

modcloth

watermelon beach ball // one piece swimsuit // printed beach towel


Big thanks to Modcloth & ShopStyle for sponsoring this post! I had so much fun snapping my favorite summer looks for Fourth of July weekend!

xoxo,
Mackenzie

p.s. here are a few other Modcloth goodies I have been coveting lately:

[desert glow lamp]

[pink & green resort dress]

[‘here comes the sun’ beach hat]

[palm tree sunglasses]

[flamingo pool float]

[cactus graphic tank]

[western booties]

[palm print jewelry dish]

[brown beach dream dresses]

[cactus midi dress]

[white dress]

[pineapple earrings]

[red maxi dress]

 

How to get Perfect Beach Waves

Processed with VSCOcam with x1 preset

IMG_0674

IMG_0682

Chi Silk Infusion | Garnier Shine Spray | Surf Spray | Leave in Conditioner

Even though summer seems to be forever away, who says you can’t rock some tousled beach waves this season? Whether your hair is collarbone length or hip length you can still rock this look. I’ve been receiving lots of questions about the hair products I used when I was in Maui and how I styled my hair. Here are my top tips for achieving beach-ready hair (even if you are just cozying up by the fireplace with some hot chocolate)…

  1. Prep your hair with the right products – Having the right products to create your beach waves is absolutely essential. Your #1 secret weapon will definitely be Salt Spray, no doubt. My go-to is the Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray which is for ‘beachy, windswept styles’. I have been through almost three bottles of this heavenly product, and it is worth the splurge. I’ve been dying to try Bumble & Bumble’s new Surf Infusion. If you want to try a drugstore alternative, definitely check out Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray.  I use salt spray when my hair is both wet and when it is dry by scrunching it into the bottom half of my hair. The other products pictured above include Chi Silk Infusion, Garnier Shine Spray, and It’s a 10 Leave in Conditioner. I have naturally very dry and coarse hair that tends to get mega frizzy angry. Though Salt Spray creates a nice, beachy texture, it can dry out your hair a little. To help my hair feel soft and manageable, I use some hydrating products to balance everything. Right after getting out of the shower,  I apply ‘It’s a 10 Leave in Conditioner’ after towel drying my hair. I then lightly brush through my hair. I avoid applying this product to the roots so that my hair is not greasy or weighed down. After that, I scrunch the Surf Spray into my roots and tips of my hair. Once my hair is dry (hours and hours later..), I will style it. You could also blow dry your hair if you don’t want to wait for it to dry. I recommend blow drying it upside down to get some additional volume. After styling my hair, I will finish it off with Chi Silk Infusion in the bottom half of my hair. I use this product by rubbing it between my hands, and then running through my hair. This keeps the fragile tips of my hair hydrated and healthy. I spray Garnier Shine Spray throughout my entire hair just to tame frizz and create shine. My sister and I have loved this affordable product for years and years. The last product I use is hairspray, and I will use it all over my hair. I actually like to hairspray my hair upside down because I find that adds volume.  To touch up later in the day, I will scrunch in some more Surf Spray to refresh the waves!
  2. Style – Even if you don’t have naturally wavy or curly hair, you can totally achieve beach waves with the help of a curling iron. I personally prefer a one inch barrel because it creates nice, loose waves, however, you can definitely use a smaller barrel as well. I find that using a cone shaped wand like this one helps easily create beachy waves. I will wrap each chunk of hair around the barrel instead of clamping my hair. When you use the clamp, your hair tends to look too styled and can leave creases. When I use a curling iron, I will take a strand of hair, wrap it around the curling iron, hold it for a few seconds, and then lightly let the piece of hair go. If you have naturally straight hair, I would suggest splitting your hair into sections and layers, starting with the bottom layer first. Make sure you are curling each piece away from your face to create a more windblown affect. After you finish curling it, flip your hair around to help the curls look a little more natural. If you find your hair looks a little too styled, spray in some more salt spray, and you’re good to go.
  3. Extend your beach-ready look– Why would you want your new tousled hair to only last one day? Be beach ready in the morning by sleeping in two loose braids or trying out sponge rollers. Sleeping in braids will create nice waves- just comb through your hair with your fingers in the morning to loosen up the waves. If you want to try sponge rollers, I recommend tying your hair up in a high pony with a scrunchy. Then take chunks of hair from the ponytail and roll them up in sponge rollers about half way. In the morning, take the rollers up and hairspray your hair upside down at the roots. Shake it out, scrunch in Salt Spray, and finish off with some shine spray to top it all off. I am also a huge fan of dry shampoo for second (or third.. or fourth) day hair. My all time favorite is Batiste. I love how affordable their dry shampoos are and the variety of shades and scents.

Thanks for checking out my blog!

xoxo

Beach Bliss

2

1

3

4

5

IMG_9650

IMG_9726

6

Top | Bralette | Eyeshadow (in ‘Stargazer’)

[on Alexandra: Dress | Bralette | Sandals| Necklace]

There is nothing I love more than the beach. Every Christmas, my family heads to Maui for some rest & relaxation. For the past six years or so we have stayed at the Ritz Kapalua, which I absolutely love. This year we decided to do something different and book a room at the Montage. We have been absolutely loving every second of this gorgeous resort so far. My sister and I decided to take a few quick pics near the ocean before enjoying an awesome dinner at Merriman’s– one of our family’s favorite restaurants on the island. I had fun being behind the camera and snapping some pictures of my sister twirling in this Free People dress [also featured here].  She paired the tunic dress with brown lace up sandals and a simple necklace. For dinner, I wore a blue halter blouse paired with some flowy, black shorts. I also added some gold sandals as well. For my makeup, I decided to use my favorite lime green eyeshadow that is super glam and sparkly. I also added some ardell lashes just for something different! To finish it off, I went with Too Faced’s lipstick in the shade ‘Juicy Melons‘. It’s such a fun shade for the beach, and it definitely reminds me of summer time.

Follow me around this week on Maui by following my Snapchat (Mackenzieken) & my Insta (mackenziekmiller). Thank you so, so much for checking out my blog! I hope you all are having a great week!

xoxo

Totally tropical

trop5

trop2
trop3

trop4

trop1

drip2

trop6

Top Blue Door Boutique (not available, but similar) • Shorts Show Me Your MuMu • Sandals Jack Rogers  • Necklace Kendra Scott • Nails Essie ‘Bikini So Teeny’

Nothing says summer like a bold, tropical pattern. These Show Me Your Mumu shorts have definitely been my favorite piece in my closet for the past few months. I feel like I wear them weekly. They are incredibly comfortable, and surprisingly pretty versatile. I recently purchased them in white as well. I usually pair these shorts with a white or denim shirt, but today I tried them out with a fun, hot pink tank.

I also included pictures of the two baby kittens we have been fostering for the past few weeks. We took them to the Humane Society yesterday, so that they can find a good home. They were so sweet and we had the best time taking care of them!

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. Have an awesome weekend!

xoxo