Clinique Even Better Glow™

Happy Friday! It's been awhile! Work is busy and I've been happy just going to the gym and hanging out after a full day at the office. But I had to pop in because I found the best new foundation, and there's really not much better than finding that perfect shade and putting an end to the relentless experimentation.

The Even Better Glow™ display caught my eye when I passed the Clinique counter at Southdale the other day, returning a bottle of OUAI spray (I thought this new-gen wave spray would be different, but I didn't care for the sticky feel and haphazard look; and since my hair already has texture and wave, it seemed pretty unnecessary). The moisturizing oil-free formula has luminizing pigments to create natural radiance—and promises that over time, skin glows on its own thanks to brightening vitamin C. Sign. Me. Up. I love knowing that something I wear every day is helping it long-term, not hurting it. Clinique has always been a favorite of mine because of its skin care focus and whenever I stray from the brand I wonder why—my skin just loves it. (Plus, $28 is way easier to swallow than super prestige brands like $47 NARS.) I've only been using this for two days, but was instantly obsessed. It makes my skin visibly dewy and feels light, natural and healthy (if you're super oily, this is probably too dewy for you). I'm wearing Cream Chamois—the best part is that the color blends in so well with my natural skin tone. With 30 shades, you're sure to find your best fit, too. Clinique is offering free 10-day samples right now, so swing by this weekend and try some!

Quick life update: last weekend, Chris and I visited my grandma in the U.P. with my mom. We stayed on Fortune Lake, a really beautiful chain of lakes—the kind where trees jut up right from the rocky shore and you can see straight to the sandy bottom—and I made it through my first round of golf at the Iron River Country Club. I have today off and we're heading up to Moose Lake to camp with  friends for a few nights; I'm excited to try these low country boil packets. Even though this post is about makeup, it'll be nice to go without for a few days, hang out around a fire and just relax. Hope you have a good one! 

City Guide: Girls' Night Out

WELL, it felt good to get back into normal clothes yesterday after Sunday's "octogenarian" bash! I'm all for a theme party—and bingo—but I'll pass forever on the double-wide, elastic-waist shorts (pants?) I pulled off a Goodwill rack to wear to the occasion. Skinny jeans have never felt better! 

Today's post is a little different! Bea, who blogs at ExploreMPLS, is sharing five fun spots for your next girls' night. Having good girlfriends is so important, and I love that her ideas prioritize that relationship. I had never heard of Gyst (which has been open for over two years, where have I been?) until reading her recs and had to try a wine flight for myself at the quaint fermentation bar right off Eat Street (see below! Lol to my friend Jackie quietly admiring the spread in the last photo. We were kind of dying over the butcher block tables, Olivia Pope wine glasses—even the glowy, pinkish light pouring into the windows). Scroll for all of Bea's picks. And cheers to girlfriends.

THE DAY TRIP

Wedge & Wheel | Stillwater

Go for the cheese. 

This cute cheese shop curates the best cheeses and meats of the moment—a great way to try new flavors you might otherwise skip over. I recommend the Big Board to share as a meal. My favorite part is you can buy and bring home anything you like.

THE NEW HOT SPOT

Lynhall | Lynlake

Go for the community. 

With long tables and high ceilings, this welcoming and charming spot has a modern cafeteria feel. Walking in for the first time, I was immediately greeted by a server who explained how to order. Some of my favorites are the Steamed Bun, Beet Farro Salad and French Silk Pie. 

THE ACTIVITY

Lab Mpls | Loring Park

Go to get your hands dirty. 

This requires some planning ahead because you need to purchase tickets and some classes sell out fast! My sister and I did the Cocktail Lab for my birthday and it was so fun! We learned how to make 3 different kinds of cocktails and the supplies were set up in the most Instagram-worthy way. 

THE CLASSIC

Café Lurcat | Loring Park

Go for the ambiance. 

This is one of the prettiest restaurants in the city—I love it because I feel like I'm in a different city. In the summer the patio is filled with white furniture and umbrellas and twinkling lights in the evening. My favorites on the menu are the Pot Roast, the Apple, Cheese & Chive Salad, and—of course—the Cinnamon Sugar Donuts. 

THE ADVENTURE

Gyst | Eat Street 

Go for the wine flights. 

With Kombucha on tap and a drink called Brine & Soda, there is something new to try every time. I tried a sparkling wine flight, the Motherboard and Grilled Cheese and all were delicious—plus, they serve extra bread so you don't have to ration your bites! They also focus on sustainable farming, which is just one more thing to love.

Thanks, Bea! 

3 Wedding Guest Dresses

Shockingly, Chris and I only have two fall weddings to attend this year, which is just fine because summer is flying by fast enough without every weekend pre-booked. Still, I thought it would be fun to create a few wedding guest looks since it is the season for ceremonies! Even if you aren't RSVPing "yes," having one or two cocktail dresses for unexpected occasions (a nice dinner, a baby shower) is a good plan. Like having wine on hand for spontaneous guests, it's refreshing not to have to race to the mall every time an event pops up.

We're sticking around Minneapolis this weekend for the first time since June! We're going to a friend's surprise party at a brewery tonight, possibly hitting the driving range tomorrow to put my golf lessons to the test, and doing a meat raffle and bingo at a couple of dive bars for another birthday on Sunday—the theme is "Midwestern Octogenarian" (cringe face). Hope you have a great weekend! 

LOOK 1

Sunglasses | Studs | Nail Polish in Splish Splash

Dress | Sandals

LOOK 2 

Fragrance | Tassel Earrings | Nail Polish in Confession

Dress | Sandals 

LOOK 3 

Clutch | Hoops | Nail Polish in Madame

Dress | Sandals

My Summer Playlist

Happy Friday! I'm feeling the relief in a different way this week. I really like my job—but working at a smaller company has its pains. Processes are mushy, roles are blurry. I came home last night and just cried. The cure for a rough week? Good music and fun clothes. I've been blasting my summer playlist as I work from home today and it's definitely helping. (Lots of Francis and the Lights—we saw them in March and it was so.good.—and new Haim. Scroll down to listen!) And I bought this lavender peplum top before all the drama went down, but it's still cheering me up to know I get to wear it this weekend. The color is to-die. We'll be up north-ish again for Chris's family's annual summer Lake Day and I plan to pull it out for the birthday party happening on Saturday. I'll be posting pics and stories so follow the fun on Instagram!

Earrings | Top | Clutch | Shorts | Sandals

Trend Alert: Yellow

Yellow is a tricky color to pull off, but it's all the rage right now so I'm giving it a shot! I don't really have a favorite color—maybe poppy or chartreuse or cerulean—but I remember it being yellow at one point because the walls of my childhood bedroom were a soft buttery chiffon with flowers sprouting up from the molding. One thing's for sure, it makes you feel seriously sunshine-y, and there's no better way to feel in the summer.

I scoured my favorite sites to find the most flattering ways to wear the trendy color and decided on this citrusy one-shoulder top. I'd pair it with light-wash jeans and a straw hat for a typical summer Saturday in the city—running to the farmers' market in the morning (which I have yet to do WHERE is July going?!), grabbing lunch and shopping in Wayzata, and hanging at a few breweries back in Minneapolis. It'd be great for Rock the Garden and the Walker Wide Open party (happening tonight!), too—are you going? Also, these sandals are a celeb fave (and 30% off!), and a large leather tote is my next splurge purchase—perfect for work and weekends!

Hat | Earrings | Top | Tote | Jeans | Sandals