My top 5 favorite items in August…
1. Seamless Undies (Luxe for Less)
I bought an inexpensive set of cheeky hipster bikinis and thongs to compare with my all time favorite Almost Bare line at Soma (after one of my readers recommended these to me). They have almost 5,000 glowing reviews and are a fraction of the price of the Somas and…I like them the SAME. Let me explain.
Both brands are light, airy, tagless, available in lots of colors and styles, and extremely comfortable. However, besides the price, the main difference is the stretch. Soma is made with 77% nylon and 23% spandex, and basically feels like you’re not even wearing underwear, whereas the DEANGELMON have a slight stiffness and are made with 85% polyamide and 15% elastane, and just barely hug your body.
I haven’t washed the DEANGELMON a million times yet so I can’t say for sure, but I wonder if the stiffness might allow them to hold up longer over time? The Somas feel a teeny bit looser after many washes.
It’s also worth mentioning that based on the Amazon reviews, it seems the DEANGELMON are more comparable to Skims than Soma. I don’t own any Skims so I can’t compare.
The final verdict? I am really happy with both brands. For ultimate comfort, Soma thongs win for daytime wear. However, if you prefer to sleep in undies with more coverage, the DEANGELMON hipster bikinis win as the stretch allows them to stay in place and not slide around (especially if you’re an aggressive sleeper like me). Both brands are excellent, but if you’re looking to restock your underwear drawer and don’t want to drop $12 per pair of Soma, you can get 6 pairs of DEANGELMON for less than $15 (as of 8/1/24 with 10% off coupon).
2. Lash Clusters
I haven’t been wearing mascara the past few months and instead have been wearing false lashes!! I love the look and they make me feel a little more pulled together when I’m makeup-free (which is most days)!
To be honest, this took me a lot of trial and error learning how to put them on quickly (I apply them UNDER my lash, not on top) and making them last. I have a few types but these Lash Clusters are the ones I wear the most. They are the least expensive and the easiest to apply. My lash connoisseur friend April recommended them to me (C-12mm and 10 mm for the corners)!
A Few Tips
- Apply your lashes UNDER your eyelashes, not above. They look so much more natural that way.
- I LOVE the FlutterHabit glue and it’s ALL I use no matter which lashes I’m applying! This underlash adhesive is long lasting and allows the lashes to stay on for up to 5 days, depending on how delicate I am with them when washing my face.
- I use these Applicator Tweezers to apply my lashes.
3. Glass Storage Jars
I cleaned out our pantry and bought these jars for our smoothie powders. This has been such a game changer as previously the bags would explode powder all over my counters every time I open/close them! The glass jars make smoothies so much easier/cleaner!
4. Dishwasher Magnet
Now that summer is over, the dishwasher unloading chore is back for the kids. They are loving it. Kidding. They complain EVERY time it’s their turn and it takes them approximately 42 minutes to complete the task. But when the sign says CLEAN they know it’s time for someone to empty it and they rotate turns. While we do run the dishwasher most nights, there are occasions (like takeout nights) where I don’t run it. So this handy dandy dishwasher magnet has also helped prevent any more dirty dishes from being unloaded back into my kitchen.
5. Bralette
I’ve been on a hunt for a comfy bralette with SEWN IN CUPS for daily wear and got this one recently and am happy with it! It checks all the boxes — the fabric is soft and comfortable, and I don’t have to fuss with removable pads! I’ve washed it a few times already and it’s kept it’s shape.
Products Refills
- Unbleached Parchment Paper: Restocked on this paper too! I go through a LOT of parchment paper, and buying the sheets versus the rolls is life changing. This pack comes with 200 thick sheets!
- Glass Storage Jars: I cleaned out our pantry last weekend and bought more of these jars for our smoothie powders. This has been such a game changer as previously the bags would explode powder all over my counters every time I open/close them! The glass jars make smoothies so much easier/cleaner!
- Naked Energy REFILL: This is our second container of this pre-workout powder! We’ve tried a few types but most of them are filled with junk, dyes, and other not-so-great ingredients before switching to this one. However, it does NOT taste good. I get the unflavored powder and mix a scoop of Ultima Electrolyte Powder to hide the taste!
- Mosquito Bits REFILL: I think this might be my last refill of the season! I refreshed our mosquito buckets last weekend and am hoping it’s the last time, but just in case I have a little extra for next month depending on the weather.
- Dog Shampoo REFILL: A 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner that cleans and softens Mabel’s coat really well, and is paraben/dye/soap-free. The scent we usually get is the papaya and coconut (it doesn’t smell tropical to me at all), but I just bought the watermelon scent to try!
- Swim Goggles: I’ve been buying and sharing these goggles for years. If the goggles are left on the pool deck, Mabel will grab them and chew them to pieces, so these go missing at lightning speed. We were down to one pair so I just restocked our favorite anti-fog, leak-proof, goggles. They are EASY to adjust and have a well-designed clasp that allows kids to easily unclip their goggles with one hand. They’ve got 11.5K+ reviews.
- Flat Claw Clips: Bought a few more of my favorite hair clips since my little tween keeps stealing mine! The shape is really pretty and they come in a pack of 6! Don’t forget to clip the 20% off coupon too!
- FAIRY TALES ROSEMARY REPEL: Restocked for daily use for Caroline now that she’s returned to school. We’ve used this for years and it works! We didn’t use it all summer and…well…lesson learned.
