(Pine Street Station.)
On Father’s Day, we had a nice lunch at Pinthouse Pizza, and before driving out to Ryan’s favorite brewery, we headed downtown to check out a clothing market that was held that weekend. The market wasn’t quite what I had imagined, but as things often go in Austin, we discovered a wonderful art space across the street and spent some time exploring its location.
Pine Street Station is an art workshop and collaborative with indoor exhibits and outdoor installations. It has a store that is opening soon, and plenty of outdoor seating for events. The day we were there, a few artists were working, and they were kind enough to talk with us and give us free reign to explore the grounds. James and Rhys quickly found a playmate, and all three children ran freely around Pine Street while Ryan and I wandered through the indoor areas, which are filled with exhibits by local artists. There are picnic tables and lots of large, shady trees, and people are invited to bring food and drinks and come enjoy the space. We felt very welcome to be at Pine Street Station, and I really want to visit again soon.
(One of the artists gave the boys dried paint rollers to use.)
(Pine Street Station has a large art space filled with interesting works by different artists.)
(The boys exploring the indoor spaces.)
(An outdoor installation.)
(The outdoor area at Pine Street Station.)
Pine Street Station can be rented as a venue for events, but I really love it as an art collective. I felt so welcome and at home that day, and I hope to return again this summer for an official event. If you’re in Austin, I really encourage you to visit.
(Lierac’s Huile Sensorielle, Jane Iredale PureMatte Finish Powder, and Dior Addict Lip Glow.)
I’m trying to simplify my beauty purchases these days. Once, I liked to try every new product that I read about, but now I’m sticking to old favorites and only trying new things that I really think will work well for me. In the summer, it’s too hot to use many products, so I like to find items that can work double time to get the job done.
My all-time favorite pressed powder is Jane Iredale’s PureMatte Finish Powder, and I find it especially wonderful for staying shine-free during the hot summer months. I keep it in my makeup kit and only apply it in the morning, so I just purchase the refill to save a bit of money and don’t bother with the compact. I’m still a big fan of Rimmel’s powder, too, which is great for fall and winter.
I’m a lip junkie and often wear three products on my lips at the same time, balm, color, and gloss. But I read about Dior Addict Lip Glow, a gloss that actually enhances your natural lip color, and I decided to try it. Lip Glow is fairly thick and works with your body temperature to create a soft color on your lips, so it’s kind of like a mood ring or those weird Hypercolor t-shirts from the 90s that everyone used to wear. But unlike those crazy fads, this balm really works, and I can wear it all day long, with or without other products. It feels nice to apply and keeps my lips moisturized, too. It’s been my go-to color this summer, but it could work in the colder months, as well.
And as much as I love perfume and body products, I’ve never tried a body oil until recently. I kept reading about Lierac’s Huile Sensorielle Aux 3 Fleurs Blanches, which translates to “Sensory Oil with 3 White Flowers,” and Lucky Magazine had a discount code to try it. I’ve been really happy with the essential oils I use for fragrance, so I was intrigued with the idea of a body oil that smells amazing, too. The scent is fresh and light, and the oil itself is quite moisturizing. I find it to be a little greasy on my skin, so I normally apply it at night before bed. But the oil can be used in your hair, too, and it adds shine and fragrance. This body oil is luxurious, in my opinion, so I don’t use it every day and I don’t apply it to my face. I think it will be especially nice in the winter months when my skin is dry.
Last but not least, I discovered a lotion that is boring and unglamorous, but absolutely amazing! I had a few bug bites on my legs from being outside and my hair follicles seemed irritated, too. That had never happened before, so I tried a bit of AmLactin Lotion, which contains alpha-hydroxy acid and works well for irritated skin. It cleared up my itching overnight and I noticed that my legs felt softer than they normally do. I’ve started using it on my arms and they are smoother, too. I’m not using the AmLactin on a regular basis yet, but I’m really pleased with it and how quickly it works to smooth irritated skin, especially during the summer months.
Do you have any favorite summer products? I’d love to hear about them.
I first read about Seamly.co, a clothing line that utilizes surplus fabric to design their versatile pieces, at Leah’s wonderful blog. I was impressed by the gorgeous clothing and also by the company’s mission to ensure sustainability by producing in the United States. Seamly.co takes leftover American-made fabric and crafts it into something beautiful and utilitarian, too.
The pieces are basic wardrobe components: skirts, dresses, tops, and cardigans, and some, like the Jenny Dress shown above, can be worn in multiple ways. I’m intrigued by the idea of lengthening or shortening this dress by pulling a drawstring, and I’m thinking about buying it to wear year-round. The Versalette is Seamly.co’s original piece, and can be worn in as many as 30 different ways. It’s currently available for pre-order in September.
The company also asks for customer input and lets you vote for upcoming styles, which allows them to produce items that will definitely sell. I think that’s a genius marketing strategy, especially since I like to think of shopping as voting with my money, anyway.
Some of the Seamly.co pieces are on my list for fall, and I think the Wrapped Cardigan and the Jenny Dress will be wonderful additions to my wardrobe. Seamly.co’s lookbooks are great for styling inspiration, too.
