I’m honestly still not sure what having a “hot girl summer” means. But one thing I AM sure about? July was the best month I’ve had in a long time.
We’re finally feeling settled in Amsterdam, partly because we’ve started building some truly amazing friend groups. I’m getting to an age where I need to prioritize my time – which means I want to spend it with people I genuinely enjoy. Although it was difficult in the beginning, COVID actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us as expats. Once we got connected, we’ve actually been able to build deeper friendships – the kind that are lifelong ones.
July was filled with a lot of memorable moments for me – read on to find out what I’m celebrating this month!
Mercedes
What I’m doing: traveling!
Truthfully, I might have overdone it with travel this month. I had three back-to-back weekend trips – Ibiza, Croatia, and Champagne / Paris. But with travel finally open (and the uncertainty of when it might close with the delta variant), I don’t regret any of it.
Ibiza was my first real vacation with my husband in 9 months; Croatia might have been my favorite group trip ever; and Champagne was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And Paris… well Paris is always incredible. I absolutely loved this under-the-radar hotel rooftop bar, which had a view of the Eiffel Tower AND the Arc de Triomphe. You can easily make a reservation on their website, and it has the same view as the uber-popular (and uber-pricey) rooftop next door at The Peninsula.
I’m taking my time to write the rest of those travel guides, but you can find more travel inspo (within Europe and the US) here. And I’ll be updating my Mykonos guide when we visit in August!
What I’m using: French beauty products
One of the best things about visiting Paris was stopping at a French pharmacy. I was able to stock up on some of my favorites, like this Avene moisturizer (US link / EU link). It’s not greasy, but super hydrating and gentle. I’ve found it to be perfect for my travel-agitated skin this summer. For more of my favorite French beauty products (including where to find them in the US), check out this post.
What I’m celebrating: 1,000 followers
It’s seems like a silly milestone, but it’s actually quite meaningful for bloggers – I just reached 1,000 followers on Instagram! I love writing travel guides, but it’s so hard to tell people about your content when there is SO much out there. Each post I write can take 4-6 hours, and for someone with a full-time job that is a BIG commitment. So, since I’m not lucky enough to personally know 1,000 friends, this milestone means that other people are reading and appreciating my content. Which is a huge win! 🙂
What I’m looking forward to: having visitors
There’s actually one more thing I’m celebrating. We are over-the-moon excited, because tomorrow we have our first visitors arriving! This is the first time in my life that I’ve really lived outside of California, away from my support network. So not being able to share our new life with our friends & family over the last ~2 years has been difficult. We’re looking forward to the simple things, like biking around the city and showing them our favorite terraces and dinner spots.
What I’m wearing: dresses inspired by this high-end brand
Cult Gaia is one of my favorite brands – their pieces are super chic. But unfortunately, their prices are insanely unrealistic. So I’ve been researching (and wearing) all the best lookalike styles.
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Since most of my travel has been to warm places – and Amsterdam hasn’t seen sun in the last 9 months – I’ve also been wearing a LOT of swimsuits. All of the 2021 swimwear trends are totally wearable, and I’ve collected a bunch of pieces here that will work for any style.
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