Summer Pick Me Ups — adlibbing life

Some things just scream summer. A day at the lake. A great tan. Your favorite flip flops. Staying up late and sleeping in. In the spirit of this bright and happy season, I’ve rounded up a list of some of my favorite summer picks. Enjoy!

It’s Not On The Rocks But It’s On The Go

Yo, yo, yo! It’s a margarita to go! Taco Ranch…you’re genius.

Austin favorite P. Terry’s is known for their delicious burgers, fries and shakes but their venture into the land of tacos is rapidly making a name for itself as well. The menu at Taco Ranch includes everything from breakfast tacos to nachos to churro brownies, but it’s their frozen margarita that will have you pumping the breaks. Literally. Obviously you can order one inside but this lovely libation is also available in the DRIVE THRU! Strawberry is always the flavor of the day and it’s made with wine instead of tequila which in my opinion makes it the perfect balance of refreshing and sweet. This is a margarita that’s right up my alley. There’s a limit of two per car: two people, each with a valid ID must be present in said vehicle. The Taco Ranch folks fill your cup, pop on a lid and put a sticker over the opening where your straw will eventually go. But they don’t give you one...you gotta wait until you’re home safe and sound to start sipping. But who cares? I can live with that because it’s a delicious frozen margarita TO GO, people! And I’ll definitely drink to that!

Taco Ranch has two Austin locations: 5033 W Highway 290 & 517 W Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Blonde Ambition

There’s just no blonde like a Sarah Garner blonde.

Real talk: I’m a brunette ( I think ) but it’s been decades since I’ve seen my real hair color. And I’m in the perfect hair relationship to help me keep it that way. If you’re looking to go lighter, look no further than Sarah Garner. I’ve been seeing Sarah for my cut and color since I moved to Austin more than 5 years ago and I call her “The Blonde Expert.” She is as kind and lovely as she is capable and talented when it comes to helping you achieve your hair dreams. She truly listens and works with you. Over the years she has helped me go shorter, fluffier, longer, sleeker and her coloring skills are divine. Currently I’m a beige-blonde with all over highlights. She also does a base bump (yassss—ya girl love a bump!) which keeps the contrast between my highlighted hair and my natural hair less drastic. A lovely blending effect, if you will. And when I recently got extensions Sarah didn’t bat an eye. She is calm, cool and collected and she knows all my secrets...and keeps them! A true gem!

Sarah Garner works her magic at Siva Salon located at 1114 W 5th St. Call (512) 922-2598 to book.

Nailing It

My signature summer color for fingers and toes: Funny Bunny by OPI.

If you’ve followed me for a while you know I have favorite nail colors based on the season. When the temperatures heat up, I love to lighten things up with OPI Funny Bunny. Technically it’s the palest of pinks but reads nearly white. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a nice summer tan and it always looks fresh and “with it.” I’ve done gel on my fingers and toes for years and I still get compliments and questions about the color. Snag your own bottle at the beauty supply or drug store, or it’s available at most nail salons, just call and ask.

Gloss Love

My very favorite lip gloss: Bare Shimmer by BeautyCounter. Getcha some!

Long ago in a land far away called Plano, 6th grade Mandy and her mom were at the mall and happened upon a lovely little lip gloss called “Nude” by Clinique. Mom bought me 2 tubes and I absolutely loved it. When I finished those we went back for more only to be told it would be discontinued. If memory serves they had 9 tubes left and my mom got them all for me. I wore it as long as I could, scraping down to the very last bit in each tube sometimes pressing and digging so hard I would break the wand. Then I went through a series of unfortunate lip colors...perhaps too brown, too hot pink, too dark. Finally I came back to simple nude again. Damn the trends. No matter what everyone else is wearing or what the “what’s hot” lists say, I look best in a pinky/peachy/pale nude and that’s just my truth. So I moved on to Chanel Glossimer in the palest of pinks; in fact it was almost clear. (The name escapes me). I loved it. And then it was discontinued. Cut to April of 2019. My friend and BeautyCounter mentor Martha Lynn Kale sends me a package of goodies including the BC lip gloss in Bare Shimmer. I put this on my pucker and I swear to you the angels sang! It’s like my favorite 6th grade Clinique and my favorite grown up Chanel got married and had a lip gloss baby and let me tell you SHE IS PERFECT. Ladies this is it. This is the shade, the universal shade made to make every woman’s mouth look it’s best. I am more in love with this lip gloss than is appropriate to speak of but let me just say, I believe it is one of the keys to looking younger. It is dewy, it is flattering, it is perfect. It softens everything about your whole look. Try it. You’ll love it. And if you don’t—and I mean this in the nicest way—you’re crazy and gimme it.

Order Bare Shimmer Lip Gloss and other BeautyCounter products by heading to the link in my Instagram bio.

Triple Filtered Diamond Water

So this is kind of a joke and kind of real freaking serious. I stumbled on the Starbuck’s water while following one of my very favorite bloggers/instagrammers/influencers Beth Chappo. Now y’all know my daily Starbies drink is what some might call....involved. (Those who mock simply do not understand). So when Beth raved about their water I was like a) I don’t need another beverage from Starbuck’s ruling my life and b) it’s water. How special can it be? Then I ordered one. Starbucks puts their water through a triple filtering process and the result is simply magical. You can see my on camera reaction by watching my Instagram story highlights but the best way I can describe it is this: it’s so crisp and so clean and so perfect, it’s like drinking a diamond. Absolutely delicious. As in the best water to ever grace your mouth. So I’ve called it Triple Filtered Diamond Water or Diamond Water ever since. I get one regularly along with my coffee drink. The barista at my Starbie’s said it’s always free and they never mind you coming in for one, even if that’s all you get. So bottoms up on the Starbies H2O! And let me know what you think of it.

Triple Filtered Diamond Water is available at every Starbucks throughout the land. Just don’t call it Diamond Water when you order it...that’s our thing, not theirs ;) Unless we want to start a campaign….

I would love to know the things big and small that you’ve been enjoying those summer. Be sure to comment below!