Spring Casual

When I think of Spring fashion, comfortable florals and colorful outfits come to mind. My closet once used to be very black and white but I've been adding lots of colorful tops and accessories over the past few years. I don't however own many floral pieces probably because I'm very picky with florals as they can't be too "flowery". Does that even make sense? I guess I don't like too much noise in my outfits. This cute yet subtle floral top from Forever 21 has been in my closet for over 7 years and I still love it! It's has a super comfortable elastic waist and is light and airy for Spring and Summer in Florida.

 

We took these photos while exploring the historic district in St. Augustine over Easter weekend. One of my favorite (and must-have) accessories for traveling is a good size cross body purse that can fit more that just a couple credit cards and a lipstick. My pink Kate Spade cross body purse is the perfect travel companion (this particular one is sold out but they do have similar cross body purses in a variety of colors).

I don't consider myself a fashion blogger and I don't have a professional photographer sidekick so these photos come to you as they are - unedited and imperfect. I love fashion and will share some favorite outfits from time to time.

Has anyone tried mid-rise jeans as yet? They are life-changing!! At least they are a life-changer for me and my particular body type. Express has a good variety of styles and after wearing my first pair for a few weeks (the Dark Wash Mid Rise Supersoft Jean Legging that I'm wearing in these photos), I've gone back and purchased two more styles.



Mac's Flat Out Fabulous matte lipstick is still one of my prettiest lip colors and it was the perfect touch for this spring-inspired outfit.

While we were exploring downtown St. Augustine, we had to make a stop at one of my favorite spots,  Sangria's Wine & Piano Bar to cool down and have a refreshing glass of fruity sangria.



I bought these adorable Purple Flash Mirror Aviators in Las Vegas last year from the Michael Kors store with some winnings from the Wheel of Fortune slot machine. Purple is my favorite color so I couldn't resist but they definitely don't go with just any outfit. Luckily I was able to wear them out that weekend with the outfits I packed.



My latest Kendra Scott addition (purchased from Rocksbox) is this adjustable Jamie Bracelet in Platinum Drusy which I love because it sparkles in the light. Rocksbox just sent me the matching necklace and earrings so temptation is running high to purchase those as well. I mean they're meant to be worn together, right?

Shop The Look

Express Mid Rise Jeans * Michael Kors Watch * Kendra Scott Jamie Bracelet * Kendra Scott Elisa Necklace * Kate Spade Cross Body Purse * Michael Kors Chelsea Aviators * MAC Flat Out Fabulous Lipstick


What do you love about Spring fashion?

Silky Hair & Stylish Gear

Healthy hair and cute yet comfortable clothing and shoes are a continuous improvement battle in my life. I often buy things that just don't work so I tend to stick with products for a lifetime when I do find something that works 100%.

A big part of the battle is finding products that are actually effective for my hair type which is naturally very thick and wavy. I blow-dry my hair after washing to get the straight look that I typically rock on a daily basis. On top of being thick, it can be very frizzy in the Florida humidity so hot tools and hair serum are a necessity for me!

I shared my torturous hair drying routine two years ago in this post but since then it became significantly easier when I discovered the Revlon Hair Brush Dryer. Having explained my hair type, I have to say all three of these products provided to me by Influenster couldn't be more perfect!

I received a VoxBox of goodies from L'Oreal Paris' new Extraordinary Oil product line and I was immediately shocked they sent full size bottles. I was excited to try them but honestly a little hesitant because the name of these products led me to believe they have a very oily consistency. That was definitely not the case.

L'Oréal® Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner 

I'll start by saying that all of these products contain lightweight oils which are nourishing for dry or damaged hair but not noticeable. The shampoo lathers up so well which is great for thick hair and I love how the conditioner left my hair feeling super soft and silky. I will definitely purchase again!

L'Oréal® Lusturous Oil Serum

This serum has ultra-light oils and absorbs very quickly in my hair to fix the frizz without leaving an oily look. I absolutely love this serum and use it after blow-drying to soften and style my hair.

Outfit Details:

Off Shoulder Top (similar) * AEO Denim Skirt (similar)
Tory Burch Sunglasses * Kate Spade Glitter Stud Earrings
Alex & Ani Bangles  *  Tory Burch Thora Metallic Sandals 

L'Oreal Paris provided these products for review purposes via Influenster. This review is my true and honest opinion based on actual product use.

Summer Essentials

When I think of summer, I think of weekend days lounging by the pool and a few trips to the beach for some sun, sea and sand. Luckily I already have a few trips planned so I'm excited about that! With the weather almost being summer-like here, I have my favorite essentials ready to go.

Packed Beach Bag
I have a beach/pool bag that remains packed with some essentials all year round. Can I go to the pool or beach all year round? That would be a no. But why unpack everything when I can have my beach bag ready to grab and go for that one perfect weather day.

Here's what's in the bag:
* his and hers beach towels
* waterproof bluetooth speakers
*  SPF sunscreen
* SPF tanning oil spray
* Lip balm with SPF
* hand sanitizer
* small body spray
* small hair brush
* a fedora hat



Swim Suits & Cover-ups
Of course some good fitting swimsuits and cover-ups are needed and, from the name of my blog, you can probably tell I'm all about cute bikinis and just swim wear in general. PHAX Swimwear, a fashion focused swim/surf brand out of Colombia, contacted me about their brand hitting the shelves in the USA and asked if I would be interested in ordering some of their products. Of course I was interested!

I chose a beautiful jade-colored bikini to go with the Samburu cover-up from their Spring 2016 Ortulivo Beah Lookbook. I can tell that all of these pieces are great quality because of the super soft material. Their swim suits contain LYCRA fiber which helps the material to move and stay true to your shape to get that perfect fit.

PHAX is offering my readers a generous 30% discount at checkout with the coupon code: shopmartinisbikinis

 

What I really like about PHAX swim wear and clothing is that their product line is very fun and vibrant which is perfect for summer. Everything is also hand made (from cut to stitch to embroidery) so that's pretty impressive! I get nervous ordering swimwear and underwear online because you really need these things to fit perfectly for your body. Thankfully the sizes for the bikini top and bottom piece were perfect. The cover-up (pictured below in blue) I ordered a small but it runs more like a medium. The good thing is loose fitting cover-ups are comfortable so it doesn't need to be returned.

 

Sunglasses
I have a few pairs of sunglasses that I rotate depending on the outfit and occasion. My current favorite are these Michael Kors Aviators pictured below. They have purple mirror lenses which you can't really tell from the photo.



Hydration
Never leave home without some cold water or sparkling water bottles to stay hydrated and if you're looking for some spike in your refreshments, I'd definitely recommend Skinny Girl Cocktails. They are all light and refreshing but I happen to love the Mojito and  Cosmo cocktails.

Waterproof Flip Flops
I mean this goes without saying. Comfortable shoes in general are always needed throughout the year but when it comes to summer, cute flip flops are a must. My current lust are these beauties from Tory Burch which are also waterproof.

Activities & Fun
If you're heading to the beach or the pool some entertainment might be needed. This could be reading material or water/land activities and sports such as volleyball or racket ball. Whatever peaks your interest, make sure to pack it in your beach bag so you don't get bored.

What are your summer essentials?

The PHAX products were provided to me complimentary in return for my honest review of the products. All opinions stated above are honest and accurate based on my true experience.

Rocksbox Lately

It's been a while since I posted about the Rocksbox accessories that I've gotten thanks to a wonderful friend as a birthday gift in December. I've received two boxes since my last update so today I'm sharing Rocksbox 6 and 7.

Rocksbox #6

Kendra Scott
Rayne Silver Necklace in White Pearl
Loved - purchased for $60  
(Link here)

Jill Michael
Layered Chain Bracelet in Silver

Liked - returned (wore once)

Perry Street
Bethany Necklace
Liked - returned (wore once)

Rocksbox #7

Kendra Scott
Danielle Earrings in Black
Loved - purchased for $48  
(Link here)

SLATE
Half Pavé Triangles Bracelet
Too Dainty - returned (never wore)

Loren Hope
Sylvia Necklace in Crystal
Liked - returned (wore once)

Overall, I was pretty happy with these two boxes mainly because both included pretty Kendra Scott pieces (I've been buying all the KS pieces). Other than that some pieces were just okay and I wore a few pieces once just for novelty and then returned them.

Links to my previous five boxes:
one  /  two  /  three  /  four  /  five

Rocksbox Holiday Jewels

A friend of mine gifted me a Rocksbox subscription for my birthday and I received my first box of goodies right before Christmas which included a beautiful pair of Kendra Scott earrings, a statement necklace and a dainty silver ring. I used to have a subscription over a year ago and was always quite happy with the pieces they sent me but I eventually decided to cancel it since it wasn't a necessity for my wardrobe. I posted about my previous boxes here, here, and here.

Kendra Scott Elle Earrings

Perry Street Noelle Necklace

Sophie Harper Pavé X Ring

 

I absolutely love the earrings and necklace and while I really like the ring as well, it came a bit tarnished so it looks quite worn.

From this box I decided to purchase the earrings and I'm still deciding whether I want to purchase the necklace or not. Overall I'm really happy with the pieces they sent despite being slightly disappointed with the ring.

What do you think about the necklace? I wish I had taken a photo from when I wore it on Christmas night. #badblogger

Rebecca Minkoff Statement Rings

When I started holiday shopping around Black Friday, I stumbled upon Rebecca Minkoff's jewelry and immediately fell in love with all of her chunky and bold rings. I've always loved her purses but didn't think to check out her line of accessories. Statement necklaces have always been my thing but now I've opened up a new love for statement rings because of her collection. I bought myself this dual stone ring in silver as an early birthday gift and thought I'd share some of her other beauties.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

Hope everyone has gotten most of their holiday git shopping done but, if not, maybe these rings might appeal to some of the spumky ladies on your list.

Happy Holidays!

Swim Lover's Holiday Gift Guide

Luckily Florida doesn't stay cold for very long so beach/pool weather is usually in our favor. As you can probably tell from the name of my blog, I'm a big fan of swimsuits and beachwear in general. The holidays is the perfect time to stock up on some new suits for the year ahead and I usually pick up a thing or two for the husband and my girl friends as gifts.



SwimOutlet.com contacted me to review their online store and merchandise and of course I agreed. I purchased the Volcom Wild Marks Bikini top and matching Brazilian cut bikini bottom for myself and the Rusty Men's Boardshorts for K with the gift card they provided. I have to say the material of the bikini is so incredibly soft you can tell it's great quality. Actually same goes for the shorts. I also love that they kind of (not on purpose) match each other.



From growing up in the Caribbean I've always been a fan of good quality swimsuits and beach clothing that will withstand the salt and sun. Luckily SwimOutlet.com carries most of my favorite brands including Vix, Betsey Johnson, Volcom, Roxy and Kate Spade just to name a few. I picked some faves for Him and Her that would be perfect for gifts or just to gift yourself.

Gypsy Road Kimono / Wrap Bikini Top , Bikini Bottom / Pineapple Kaftan Cover Up
Free Spirit Dress / Jaime Bikini Top, Bikini Bottom / Pineapple Paradise Tank

Desert Fringe Crochet Shorts

Pineapple Paradise Beach Bag

One / Two / Three / Four / Five / Six

Garmin VIRB X Action Camera

They offer a whole lot more than just fashion swimwear like for competitive swimmers, techies, kids, and water sports such as surfing and water polo. The fashionista in me naturally drifted to the beach clothing and bikini sections of their online shop.

If you're looking for gift ideas, SwimOutlet.com's Holiday Gift Guide is a good place to start as they offer some great ideas for different types of swimwear and equipment. I also like that they offer free shipping on purchases over $49, which always helps to cut the cost of shopping online.

Booties & Scarves

Florida has been getting it's first taste of Fall mainly at night which means it almost time to pull out our sweaters, booties and scarves. I love booties with a medium height heel and just bought the first pair of studded ankle booties in gray since I wore my other gray pair to the ground. All of these booties are under $75 and look very comfortable yet stylish. I also own a black pair like the bottom left one which I've only had a chance to wear a handful of times.

1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6

 I own several cute scarves but there's only a small window here in Florida when a thick scarf is needed so most of mine are on the lighter side but it's good to own a few of each especially for traveling to colder temp places. All of these are super cute and very affordable in the under $25 price range.

1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 * 7 * 8 * 9 * 10 * 11 * 12

Over the next few weekends, I'll slowly be putting away the summer clothes and pulling out all the cute Fall things.

Where do you shop for affordable boots/booties, sweaters and scarves?

 

Fall Fashion Finds

Even though it doesn't feel quite like Fall here it doesn't mean we can't start preparing our outfits for the cooler months ahead. The one thing I'm looking forward to is not breaking a sweat as soon as you step outside. My office feels like the Arctic tundra and then outside is hot and humid so it's hard to plan outfits for opposite conditions. I'm all about some booties, furry vests and, cute scarves this year along with some warmer colors for tops and skinny jeans/pants. I'll just be here twiddling my thumbs until we can bring them out to play.

What's your favorite Fall find or purchase?

Faux Fur- Knit Vest * Long Sleeve Ribbed Tee * True Religion Army Skinny Jeans

Kate Spade Owl Stud Earrings * Tory Burch Booties * Miu Miu Top Rim Sunglasses

Michael Kors Printed Infiniti Scarf * Belted Faux Fur Vest * Tory Burch Riding Boots

Snake Skin Style

I'm a big fan of different prints and one print I clearly don't own enough of is snake skin. I was searching for snake print sandals like the Michael Kors sandals pictured below and found so many other cute pieces clothing and accessories that I'd love to add to my wardrobe. I'm also in love with the Vix Snakeskin bikini but it's too bad colder months are ahead of us. The Snakeskin Pumps
 would also look great with a little black dress for an evening out.

Michael Kors Charm Sandals * Strapless Dress * Dolce & Gabanna Compact Mirror Case

Snake Print Leggings * Michael Kors Snakeskin Wedges * Lumier Snake Charmer Skirt

Snakeskin Pointed-Toe Pump * Michael Kors Faux-Wrap Sheath Dress * Vix Swim Bikini

Snake Skin Multi Cross Bag * Karen Kane Snakeprint Scuba Skirt * Snakeprint Stappy Heels 

Do you like the snakeskin style?

The Prettiest Statement Necklace

If this statement necklace doesn't make a statement then I don't know what does...

I was so excited when a representative from the Happiness Boutique reached out to me because they have really stylish and fashion-forward clothing and jewelry. The Happiness Boutique is an international online store that sells women's clothing and accessories that are timeless classic with a charming vintage touch. The best part is that their items are very affordable and they offer free shipping which I'm always a fan of!



I picked the Ocean Treasures Statement Necklace because the detailing is absolutely gorgeous and I can't get enough of statement necklaces. As described on the website, it's a mermaid worth necklace full of ocean inspired colors and pearls. I immediately went through my closet to see what would go best with the color combination of the necklace.

I have a "thing" for statement necklaces and I think they are almost a necessity for high neckline tops and dresses so I have quite a few of them in different colors but I honestly think this one is the prettiest of the bunch. 

I like that the necklace goes well with both high and low necklines but I happen to own several high neckline peplum tops which matched perfectly with the necklace.

 
I've already worn it to work and out with friends and seriously can't get enough of it!

I love that the Happiness Boutique has a pretty awesome Customer Rewards Program that allows you to earn points with your purchases which you can redeem for clothing and jewelry.

They also have a Giveaway going on now if you want to enter to win their Art Deco Style statement necklace pictured below.  The winner will be announced this Friday (09.18.2015).