Sweet Progress Summer Box Swap Reveal

Do you guys like happy mail?  I love sending and receiving happy mail!  So, when I  came across Dean of Mrs. AOK's post about an awesome swapportunity, I was beside myself!  She and Ashley, put together the Sweet Progress Box Swap, #SPBOXWSWAP.  I immediately signed up and anxiously awaited the name of my partner! Click the button below to read about how they came up with the cleaver name.

The day came before I knew it and I was paired  with an awesome blogger, Erika of Cat Eyes and Skinny Jeans.  I scrolled through her blog that night and was like, "Wow, what a fashionista!"

Okay, now I'm like...uhhh...What do you get for someone with that much style?  I actually had to put off thinking for a couple of days.  I was at a total lost.

A few days later, my creative juices began to flow.  I came up with a few ideas and began working on my package for Erika. You can check out what I got her here.

Fast forward one week:  My happy mail has arrived and I'm so excited!  I can't wait to share with you all the goodies I received!  Erika hit the nail on the head with this one.  She really took the summer theme and ran with it.  

The first thing I uncovered was this cute little journal with a nautical theme...Ahoy girlie!  Too cute!  

I love journals, I mean like who wouldn't?  

This easy read novel continues the summer theme.  Bonjour Tristesse was written by Francoise Sagan when she was only 18.  Its a story about a seventeen-year-old on summer vacation from boarding school with her father in Paris.  To sum it up, she is a precocious teen trying to understand and control the world around her.  This looks like a great summer read with a great summer theme.  Erika must have read my post about needed to get back into reading.  

I'm really loving this box so far...can you tell?  Hehe...

Okay, how can you have summer without having some fruit and mine is everlasting.  I can use this pineapple bag for so much.  Inside, were some extra little treats.  A nautical themed pen and this cute, compass necklace! Aren't they darling? 

My box also included some purple polish and some good smelling body mist.  I actually sprayed it on right away.  

Light and refreshing and perfect for summer. 

Erika, you're a doll. Thank you so much for this adorable little package.  I love everything in it! 

 Be sure to go check out her blog and show her some love! 

To see what other participants received, scroll on over to our link up.  If you missed out on this swap, no sweat. 

 This is a seasonal box swap so be on the look out for more in the near future.

Have you participated in a recent box swap?  What did you like most about mine?

Currently: Mixed Emotions

Hey everyone! It's been awhile since I've been on here, but its been for good reasons.  As you will see below, I began working on this post about a month ago.  I haven't been in the mood to write much and my focus has been on other things.

Currently:

Closing: Out another school year.  The end of this year was a rough one.  We were presented with a new test again this year.  We still have PASS testing for science and social studies, but the last two years have been different test for English, Writing, and Math.  With new test come new challenges.  It literally took the last six weeks of the school year away from counseling.  Counselors have to prepare all the test, and the process is too hard to explain.  We spend hour after hour in what we respectfully refer to as "The Dungeon".  One of our veteran teachers, who tends to work late, saw us one evening leaving out the same time he was.  His words to us were, "The trolls our out of their cave."  We all had a good laugh about it.  I'm just glad it's all over.

Grieving:  The loss of my uncle.  The eve of my last day of work, I received a phone call from my dad that really struck me hard.  His brother had passed that morning.  I had just spoken with Uncle George about two weeks ago and was looking forward to seeing him this summer. We held a memorial service for him on Saturday and everyone had such wonderful things to say about him I know that he is in a better place and is watching over all of us from above.  I just truly miss him.

Getting Inspired:  I just returned from the 2016 Education Business Summit and received a lot of inspiration for the upcoming school year.  I even got to meet Chef Jeff Henderson of Flip My Food.  He was one of our keynote speakers and he was AWESOME!  His story is definitely worth knowing.

Disappointed;  I participated in a box swap recently and was really looking forward to some happy mail on my return from the summit, but was sadly disappointed.  My partner did not follow through.  Well I hope she liked the gift I sent her.

Reviewing: Various things from Influenster.  Most recently was ZzzQuil and it really works.  It helps me fall asleep and stay asleep without waking up groggy.  I received my sample free for testing purposes and I think I will be buying some once school is back in session.  Want to join Influenster and get free goodies? Join here.

For when you need it most. #Zzzquil. Thanks @influenster and @ZzzQuil for the free sample. How did you know that I just returned from a conference and could barely sleep? Time to catch up on my beauty rest! Sometimes we all could use a little help. #influenster #contest #gotitforfree #freesamples #freestuff #SleeoLovers #ad #sunshineandelephants

A photo posted by sunshineandelephants (@sunshine.and.elephants) on Jul 2, 2016 at 11:02am PDT

Thinking:  I have a lot on my mind and so much to ponder.  This is usually a more upbeat time of year for me and I 'm always looking forward to summer.  This year, I'm just not feeling it.  I don't feel like writing.  I don't have the energy to get out and go as usual.  I don't know.  Just kinda in a blah mood.  A lot of things to sort out for myself so you won't be seeing me much in the blogosphere.  But I will pop up every now and then. I have enjoyed reading others post and discovering new bloggers.  So you may not see much from me here, but I'll be around.  Until next time...Peace.

Do you go through periods where you have mixed emotions?  What are you currently up to?

Check out my Linking Up page to see where I'm sharing this post and others.

My Sunday Photo: Geese

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers of the world.  This Sunday, I watched the head of this flock watch over his family as they fed.  He kept a steady eye on me as I took the pictures.  Don't worry papa geese, I'm not going to mess with your family.  

What adventures or discoveries did you make this Sunday?

Summer Essentials

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of summer are lazy days and cool breezes.  Not sure why I thought of the latter because we don't get much of a breeze unless we're near the beach.  The summers can be brutal here in Charleston.  It’s like one heatwave after another.  But you can't let that ruin your fun.  The blaring rays of summer may try to beat you down, but there are ways to protect yourself.  Today, I'm sharing with you ten essential items you will need to beat the heat in the south.

Sunscreen:  It's a must!  I strongly advise you to not leave home without it.  Sunscreen is so important for your skin to.  I don't know about you, but I have one for my face and another for my body.  I tend to use face lotion that already has sun protection in it.  If not, Neutrogena has a great one for your face that won't clog your pores or cause break outs.

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Lip balm:  Lips get sunburned as well and it’s not a good feeling.  When our lips lose moisture, they begin to feel dry and stiff and they may even crack.  Keep them moisturized with a good coat of protection such as Carmex.  Carmex is my go to for smooth and moist lips.

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A personal towel:  No joke.  If you're planning to walk around in our neck of the woods, you had better have a towel or hanky ready.  Perspiration is second nature here.

Deodorant:  Speaking of perspiration, don't forget to apply deodorant.  Please don't leave home without it. Enough said.  

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Hand Sanitizer:  If you are out and about, have this handy to keep your hands fresh and clean.

Face wipes:  These work wonders for a quick freshen up.  Keeps you from feeling so sweaty.

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Body mist:  During the afternoon heat, a light refreshing fragrance is all you need to complete your attire for the day.  They are refreshing, a good way to cool the body, and they smell great.  Save the heavy stuff for your evening out. Check out your local Bath and Body Works for a wide selection to choose from. My favorite scent is back this summer!  Yay!

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Water:  It is so important to keep our bodies hydrated.  Water replenishes what we burn off and it’s an essential must for the hot days of summer. Check out this amazing, refreshing video from Dasani.  Ahhh...

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Hats:  Not a favorite of mine, but when the sun is blaring, a hat or visor is sometimes needed.

Sunglasses:  And last but not least, you have to be sure to protect your eyes.  A great pair of #sunnies will do the trick.  Did you see my pick from the Warby Parker collection?  They were definitely helping me to #SeeSummerBetter.

Trying out some new #sunnies from @warbyparker, so what do you think? I think I likey! My boys got to try out some, too. Review coming soon on the blog. #warbyparker #sunglasses #tryathome #warbyparkerhometryon #happysunday #sunshine #sunshinyday #feelingmyself #happy #feelinggood #seesummerbetter #eyewear

A photo posted by sunshineandelephants (@sunshine.and.elephants) on May 22, 2016 at 7:24pm PDT

The weather today was #sunnies with a chance of #coffee. ☕ Simply beautiful! June by @warbyparker are all the craze! How was you Monday? #seesummerbetter #sunshades #sunglasses #sunglasseslover #warbyparker #warbyparkerhometryon #trybeforeyoubuy #eyewear #happymonday #summervibes #fashion #accessories

A photo posted by sunshineandelephants (@sunshine.and.elephants) on May 23, 2016 at 4:49pm PDT

Well this is my list of essentials that have helped me through the summer heat.  

What are some of yours?

See who I am Linking Up with.

My Sunday Photo: Males in Shades

I recently did a review for Warby Parker for their new 2016 summer collection, #SeeSummerBetter. I wanted to show some of the other photos taken of my boys styling in their shades.  

Sometimes, we chose not to use photos because of objects in the background or the subject felt they didn't have the right look or the angle wasn't right.  Well, this post will be including said photos because personal I liked them.  You can think of this as somewhat of a blooper reel.  :)

Warby Parker #SeeSummerBetter

You know me...I live for summertime!  There is so much to do and explore in my area.  Whether you decide to take a lazy beach day with some friends, or attend one of the many festivals life has to offer, Charleston has a lot to offer.

  The warm weather beckons you to come out and enjoy.  However, the suns blaring rays can be detrimental to your eyes, so protecting them is a must.    

I am a sucker for a nice pair of sunnies and cuteness is a must.  That's why I was so excited when Warby Parker approached me to try out some of their frames.  They offer affordable, prescription eyewearand  sunglasses starting at $95. 

One thing that I really like about Warby Parker is their Home Try-On Program.  You get to pick five pairs of glasses or sunglasses to try out for five days.  This way you can try before you buy.  This is great because I must see how the frames look on my face before I buy.  There's no one size fits all here.  If you decide to buy, you just go online and click the pair you wish to order and they are yours.  There is no hassle to buy anything.  Just return all the frames in the same packaging with the prepaid return slip and you are done.

I decided to do the Home Try On program and was amazed with all the designs to choose from.  Now, there were a few that were not available for home try on, which was a bummer.  So I chose a couple that I liked for me... 

June in Moonstone and Raglan in Jet Black ...

and decided to chose the other three in male frames for my sons to try on.

Haskell  in Crystal, Ripley in Whiskey Tortoise, and Barkley  in Antique Shale Fade

I must say that we loved the frames!  Raglan won out over June, but I love the shape and style of both.  June was just a little too snug on my face.  What do you think?

Ragland ended up being my choice for the day and it came in handy since I was attending an outdoor wedding.

The boys enjoyed their frames as well.  Which pair do you like best?

*This is not a sponsored post.  I was contacted by Warby Parker and agreed to review styles from their #SeeSummerBetter Collection.  All opinions are my own.

Are you in need of new glasses or sunglasses?  Have you ever tried Warby Parker?  Which frames did you like best?

Currently May Vol. 2

Currently…

Celebrating:  Mother’s Day!  I had a wonderful day out with my boys.  They are both home for the summer, from college, and I am so happy!  We took the afternoon to go downtown for 2nd Sunday on King.  While scrolling through the square, I happen to see an old friend driving by.  He parked and walked with us and bought us dinner at the restaurant at which he works.  It was so good to catch up on old times. 

Still Working On:  Standardized testing…the summer can’t get here soon enough.

Receiving:  My first Influenster box!  J  It felt so good to come home and find my complimentary Influenster Sprout Voxbox waiting for me.  I can’t wait to try out all my goodies.  I received this box to test and review…for free!  So be sure to look for more in a future post. 

So excited to come home and find my @influenster #sproutvoxbox waiting for me to test and review! Gotta love free stuff! My thoughts and opinions coming soon! #voxbox #influenster #eatsmartsnacks #curate #orgain #ecos #hairfood #freestuff #goodies #sunshineandelephants

A photo posted by sunshineandelephants (@sunshine.and.elephants) on May 9, 2016 at 6:23pm PDT

Tinkling:  With my new toy.  I "gifted" myself with a tablet and I LOVE IT.  I really needed to get this so I could stop lugging around my laptop.  This is so much more convenient. 

Anticipating:  The launch of the #SeeSummerBetter campaign by Warby Parker.  Warby Parker offers affordable, prescription eyewear and  sunglasses starting at $95. When you purchase a pair of frames, you are also helping out someone else in need.  With a vast array of shapes and colors, you are sure to find a pair to please.  So hop on over to warbyparker.com to check out their site and be sure to follow them on Instagram for all the latest updates @warbyparker