Loving Lately: Summer Casual

I haven't shared a Loving Lately in a while, and for this one I wanted to focus on my typical summer uniform: a cute and casual tee, jean shorts or boyfriend jeans (depending on the heat!), easy, slip-on sandals, a bracelet for a pop of color, a bag that I can wear crossbody or over the shoulder, and a pair of fun sunnies.

Even though it's hot, and even though it's summer and anything goes, I still feel best (and am more productive!) when I'm pulled together. Do you have a summer uniform that you wear on repeat?

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Loving the tie-dye feel of this tee. And it's currently on sale for $7.50. Score!


Curved-Hem Slub-Knit Tee

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I'm a recovering sunglass snob...I used to only like designer sunnies, and then I left a brand new pair of Pradas at a college basketball game, and I'm still bummed about it. But there are so many well-made knockoffs these days that it's fun to have a few pairs on hand...and another bonus: you won't cry if you lose a pair.

 

Mirrored Sunglasses

 

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Love the minor distressing on this pair of shorts paired with the cuffed hem. The length is good too.

 

Distressed Slim Denim Shorts

 

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Straw bags are all the rage this season, but I haven't seen one that I totally love. Until now. And the price is just right for a trendy bag.

 

Wood Handle Straw Bag

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I'm a big fan of a statement tee. And you can't beat this sentiment.
 

Love First T-shirt

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Madewell makes some of my favorite jewelry. How pretty are the colors of this bracelet? It'd go with anything, and I like that it can be adjusted to fit your wrist size.


Beaded Slider Bracelet

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I'm so glad boyfriend jeans are a thing now. I'm all about something I can move in, and I really like the lighter wash of this pair. Perfect color for summer.

 

Distressed Boyfriend Jeans

 

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These slides are just the prettiest. But they're still casual enough to wear with a throw-on summer outfit. Loving the espadrille bottom. Bonus: they come in several other colors!

 

 Banji Espadrille Sandal

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Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

 



Ginger Pork With Cucumber & Herbs

We had this dish for dinner last night, and it was fantastic. It's perfect for busy weeknights, and if you double the recipe like I did you'll have enough for two nights!

 

 

 

Ginger Pork With Cucumber & Herbs

{Better Homes & Gardens magazine}

 

Ingredients

 

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

6 green onions, finely chopped

3 Tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons packed brown sugar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, minced

1 pound ground pork

1 medium cucumber, chopped (I use English cucumbers because they aren't as slimy!)

1/2 cup fresh herbs for garnish (I used cilantro)

Cooked rice

{If desired, crushed red pepper, lime juice, and/or Sriracha.}

 

Directions

 

In a medium bowl stir together half the green onions, the soy sauce, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper (if desired). Set aside.

 

In a large skillet heat 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add pork; stir to break apart then press flat to make one large patty.

 

Cook 3 to 4 minutes without stirring so pork patty gets crisp on the bottom. Once crisp, break up and stir in soy sauce mixture. Cook and stir until pork is cooked through and crumbly, about 2 to 3 minutes.

 

Serve pork mixture over rice (I used basmati), and top with remaining green onions, cucumber, and herbs.

 

I also squeezed a lime over the pork mixture and added some Sriracha to my bowl for some added spice!

 

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What's a Bathing Suit Body?

I saw the post on Facebook after several of my friends had shared it. A local OB-GYN's office was now offering CoolSculpting, and by sharing the post you'd be entered into a raffle to get a discount on the procedure.

 

The caption read "Get a jump start on your bathing suit body and raise your confidence." Ugh. Really? These are the words from a women's healthcare clinic that specializes in a female's health? Come again?

 

First things first: I have no issues with plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures. Much the opposite. If it boosts YOUR confidence or improves YOUR self-esteem or gives YOU back that pep in your step, then go for it! But you need to make that decision for yourself...because it makes you happy...not because society tells you where you are now isn't good enough.

Now that that's out of the way, here's my biggest issue: the OB-GYN's office is a place where a female's health is prioritized and celebrated throughout the stages of her life. It's a place we go early into adulthood, to establish the importance of our health and to begin annual preventive screenings. It's a place many of us go when we are in the early stages of family planning. It's a place we go throughout our pregnancy to ensure the health of ourselves and our unborn child. It's a place we go after our children are born to ensure that we are still well, physically and mentally. It's a place we go as we age and as our bodies (and its needs) change.

The OB-GYN's office is NOT the place we go to question whether or not our bodies (our incredible bodies that have done some amazing things!) are bathing suit ready.

Would you like to know when your body is bathing suit ready? It's really pretty simple: your body is bathing suit ready when you decide to put a bathing suit on your body. That's it. Nothing less. Nothing more. No amount of CoolSculpting is going to determine when the time is right to put on a swimsuit and play in the pool with your little ones. No amount of CoolSculpting is going to determine when the time is right to put on a swimsuit and walk down the beach with your spouse. No amount of CoolSculpting is going to determine when the time is right to put on a swimsuit and lie by the pool with a good book. YOU, yes YOU, CoolSculpted or not, get to decide that. Isn't that freeing?

And don't you ever let anyone tell you any differently.

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