I have totally been obsessing over these big, straw totes for the past few weeks now. They are so chic and you can fit a ton in them. Their beachy material makes them perfect for summer while their neutral color make them great with any outfit. I especially love when the strap is leather or faux leather–it adds that little bit of luxe to take a look from chic to chicer. And they can also double as overnight bags or your traveling carry on. Personally, I’d wear a straw tote on the daily. This versatile bag is a staple for summer. Here are a few of my current favorites:

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Welcome to the June Extreme Cash Giveaway! I’ve teamed up with some rockstar bloggers to bring you the chance to win $200 cash!

The June Extreme Cash Giveaway will rock for four weeks which means you’ll have lots of time to complete any entries that you choose to do. Remember, all entries are OPTIONAL. As always, there will be daily entries that you can do as well, so bookmark this page and come back everyday for more chances to win!

A huge thanks to our awesome co-hosts who made this giveaway possible: Oh My Gosh Beck!, Lush to Blush, The Penny Hoarder and Military Wives Saving

Giveaway is open worldwide and ends July 14th  at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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1. Joe’s Jeans // 2. GUESS // 3. Truth or Dare by Madonna // 4. BCBGeneration // 5. ZARA // 6. ZARA // 7. Truth or Dare by Madonna // 8. L.A.M.B.

For the past few weeks, I have been in a major shoe crisis. I can never decide which footwear I want to wear with my outfits and I always end up settling on something I’m not totally happy with. About 80% of the time I think to myself, “Man, if I had those Zara pointed toe wedges in white, this look would be perfect!” I always find myself wanting some white pointed toe shoes. First of all, they are the ultimate neutral. White goes with everything. Secondly, they are right on trend with the pointed toe. And finally, I am totally convinced that pointed toe heels make you look longer and leaner.

Shoes in this color and style are also great for work to weekend transitions as well as day to night. They are such a win in my book! Above are my picks for a great white shoe. I definitely need the Zara and L.A.M.B. ones. Do you love a good white point toe shoe? How would you style these?

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The Philippines isn’t a place that I have always dreamt of visiting. But as I get older, I am discovering more parts of the world that I’d love to see first hand and Coron Island is one of them. The photos I’ve seen of the beautiful seascape remind me of some kind of fantasy pirate movie. It seems like you could get lost in the lush trees and stay there forever in your very own happily ever after.

Adventurous types will love the under water excursions where one can view remains of the Japanese shipwrecks of the 1940s. In fact, the aquatic views from the sunken Japanese ships off the island are listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine’s top-10 best scuba diving sites in the world. Other activities include jungle treks, horseback tours and island camping.

And I hear the people in the Philippines are some of the nicest on Earth. They are fun, friendly, and welcome visitors with open arms. If I were to go to Coron Island, I’d certainly try out some of the adventurous attractions, but I’d also like to explore, shop, and mingle with locals. This is the outfit I’d put together for a day on Coron Island:

The post Wanderlust Wednesdays: Coron Island appeared first on Lush to Blush.

Right now I am so loving super thin spaghetti strap tops. They are convenient for summer in the smoldering heat and give off just the slightest bit of sex appeal. Personally, I think the décolletage is an underrated area to expose. It shows off your femininity without being overly forward or scant, and leaves plenty of room for jewels (although I prefer to leave it bare or add a very dainty, small chain). This thin strap look really suits my laid back summer style and keeps me comfortable both indoors and out. What is your favorite way to stay cool in the summer? Do you wear thin straps, or do you prefer to stay covered up?

Shop the Post:

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Living in midtown Atlanta is one of my favorite things about being in this city. I can walk downstairs and get whatever I need in a matter of minutes. Since I hate working out, walking places is a great alternative for staying somewhat in shape and active (even if I am walking to the wine store. One glass a day is good for you, right?).

Today I chose a flowy printed dress that I got on sale at Festivity from over $50 just $12 a few months ago. It reminds me of an exotic, far away place like Morocco or Bali. Wearing fun dresses like this one makes me feel like I could be on a vacation even thought I’m in my hometown. I paired it with some Sam Edelman wedges (perfect for an evening walk) and topped the look off with some amazing Ax&Arrow jewels. I really love the blue string with quartz necklace and the cute little beaded skull bracelet.

Dress: No label, similar here // Shoes: Sam Edelman // Jewels: Ax & Arrow

What is your favorite part about living where you live?

Photos by Johnny Cheng Photography.

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As a woman of latin descent, Mexico is a place that I have always wanted to visit. I’d really love to go to any spanish-speaking country, but Mexico is definitely one of my top five. With close proximity to the U.S., it makes a weekend getaway much more plausible than a trip to say, Spain, which makes me think it might be possible for little ole me to head over there one day.

The crystal clear blue waters make me want to put on a bathing suit right now and soak in the beaming rays of the sun, with a yummy cocktail, of course. Which brings me to my next favorite thing about Mexico: the cuisine. Mexican restaurants are among the most popular ethnic eateries in the U.S. and as a huge fan, I have to say I’d love to try the real thing. I can only imagine how flavorful and fresh the beans, cheese and avocados are down in Mejico.

Of course, we can’t forget the amazing culture in Mexico. The vibrant colors and patterns in clothing and the enthusiastic music liven up the streets day and night. Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico in the 16th century and took over the lands of the Aztecs. Eventually, these two cultures blended to become what Mexican culture is today. If I were to go to Mexico, this is what I’d wear:

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I am a girl who loves charm. I’ll take some character over expensive and luxurious any day, so when I come across something handmade, chances are, I want it. Naturally, one of my favorite sites to shop on is Etsy. Handmade items are always unique in some way and usually come in limited supply, which are just two of the reasons I love them. I really like the idea of having something special, something all my own that was made with love just for me.

Which brings me to my next reason for loving handmade goodies: the customization. While searching for just that (customized jewelry) I came across a handmade jewelry store that I absolutely loved: Ax and Arrow. Without a second thought, I reached out to the owner to order my customized necklace. I ended up getting simply my name, but there are so many other options and I think I will order a “LushtoBlush” necklace and maybe even other words like “love” or “shoes” in the near future.

Do you love handmade goodies? Where do you get your favorites?

Stay tuned for more from Ax and Arrow coming later in the week!

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Of all the incredibly beautiful tropical destinations in the world, Bali is listed as the number one place to travel by several well-known publications. The lush, exotic beaches are a dream come true for anyone. But the beaches aren’t the only attraction Bali offers. If you want to relax beyond simply gazing out at the peaceful ocean, the country offers top notch yoga instruction as well as world class spas. More of the athletic type? Get physical and go on a hike in search for hidden shrines and ancient temples. Bali even has an Elephant Safari Park for all you animal lovers out there. Bali also hosts a wonderful selection of fine dining and local cuisine options. It seems like this place seriously has it all! As if it couldn’t get any better, here are some images to help you daydream yourself to the most beautiful beach in the world.

And of course I’ll need the perfect outfit for my Bali vacation. Since it is the beach, I’s keep it fairly casual and relaxed, yet chic (always!). Here’s what I’d wear if I were to go to Bali.

Have you ever been to Bali? What is the most beautiful destination you have ever travelled to?

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This weekend I was lucky enough to spend some time with not one, but two of my best friends in the whole world! (If you follow me on Instagram, you got a little sneak peek of my fun-filled weekend.) I started off Memorial Day weekend by traveling to Tampa, Florida to visit my BFF Meghann for her daughter’s first birthday. Linnea is the happiest baby I have ever come across and there truly is something special about this little one. We had a wonderful weekend and even had some time to play outside in the grass for a little bit.

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, similar here and here // Flower Crown: Flower Crown Society

As expected, I was very sad to leave Tampa. It is so much harder to leave now that Linnea is a part of our little family! But the blow was lessened when I got a call from my other BFF, Claudia. She just happened to be driving through Atlanta and decided to stop by for the night! We went to one of my favorite Midtown spots: Cafe Intermezzo. We sipped on cocktails, ate appetizers and talked for hours. Sometimes all you need is a little BFF time in your life.

After spending time with my girls, it really hit me how hard it is to keep in touch with friends–even best friends. Friendships are relationships: they take work and effort in order to not only grow, but even just to endure. Technology makes it easy to communicate, but it does tend to take away genuine connection. From now on, I will opt for Skype over gchat and hand-written letters over emails. I hope it lasts.

What do you do to keep in touch with your BFFs?

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