It has been far too long since my last “Loving Lately” post (here) so today I want to quickly update you on a few things that I’m obsessed with at the moment. Now that we’re into summer weather here, I’m opting toward minimal makeup looks, so my favourites are more geared toward general beauty things. It’s an odd collection, let me warn you, but I hope you enjoy what I’ve been using the most (and impressed by) as of late:

Beauty
I’m sure that it comes as no surprise that I’m in love with MAC Turquatic, a beautiful citrusy, beachy fragrance that is perfect for day and night. It is so fitting for the sunshine, but I also do love it year round, as it’s my favourite kind of scent – not too feminine, sweet or floral, instead just fresh and clean! Similarly, the Yes to Grapefruit Naturally Smooth Lip Balm smells fresh and fruity without being overbearing. It also works really well, and I love the oval shape, it seems to glide onto the lips effortlessly. Also, grapefruit.

It seems I’ve been living out of my travel makeup/skincare bags the past few months as I’ve been staying the night at so many people’s places. I’ve basically just kept the same products on lock in my backpack and actually getting more use out of that round up than the things I have at home. I decided to pick up Pantene Root Reboot Dry Shampoo on a whim to see if it can rival my beloved Dove Refresh+Care Dry Shampoo, and honestly it does! Very similar, and both are super effective. Continuing on the same theme, I figured I’d buy a razor to have handy as my legs are out more often and stumbled upon this Venus Snap with Embrace Razor which is made for travel! It’s super cute and the blades is the same size as any other razor, so it’s just as effective! I also had stored the Physicians Formula Youthful Wear Spotless Powder in Translucent in my travel makeup bag hoping to finally get some use out of it. I’ve been really impressed by it as it provides a luminous finish, while still setting my base, unlike any other powder I’ve tried!

Life
Lastly, to capture some memories along the way, I’ve fallen head over heels for my Fujifilm Instax 7s Mini which I was so hesitant to use when I first bought it, but now I’m being a little too snap happy. No regrets. Too fun, and I love being able to give an instant photo to my friends and keep one for myself! This photo in particular makes me insanely happy – it’s just too adorable to not share! Also, I’m just totally loving that boy so it’s fitting.

I am an introvert. That doesn’t mean I’m shy, selfish or disinterested. Sometimes, I feel like that’s the way the world sees me. I’m actually quite observant, reflective, thoughtful and open-minded. I’m not the loudest in a crowd, but I don’t hide away either. I just require solitude, time to be alone. People tell me to get out, open up, have fun. Those things sound normal… but they aren’t MY normal.

Sure, there are some introverts that spend their days afraid of the world, always focused on the stresses inside their head. I definitely have those days, but for the most part I have fun on my own, dancing and listening to music I can connect with emotionally or thinking about happy moments in my past, or the people who I care about. Reading books or watching movies that help me reflect on how I’ve become the person I am, and who I one day want to become. Listening to podcasts to learn more about people, realizing more about myself in the process. A lot of my feelings remain inside of my head, never to be expressed to the world around me. But that doesn’t mean I want to spend ALL of my time alone. It doesn’t mean I want to be completely reserved. There is this strange dynamic inside of my head. And of course, I’m well aware of that because I’ve spent so much time thinking about it.

I’ve come to realize that this is both good and bad. I can be so unbelievably happy, but I can also reach extreme lows. I often want to verbalize my emotions because they feel too heavy, but I just don’t know how to. When I do decide to talk, reality doesn’t live up to the way things played out in my mind. The words aren’t right, the details aren’t there. Because I play EVERYTHING out before I jump into a situation. I get tongue tied, flustered or just blank entirely. And that makes me feel so alone. Not lonely, but alone. Like I’m my one true friend. Which is kind of lonely when I spell it out…

Those lows are when I feel anxious, a side effect of being too in my head. Those are the times I need to be around other people, but the times I find it hardest to do so. Because when I get that low, I honestly don’t know what triggered it. My mind moves from one thought to the next so quickly, that it’s such a tangled mess of negative self-talk I don’t understand where it even ended – what thought lead to the next? This is what I mean when I say being an introvert can be bad. This is what I mean when I say the lows are extreme. The thoughts can get so unclear, almost unannounced and yet so upsetting I just can’t function.

I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately. I’ve been trying to uncover why I am who I am. I don’t know whether I hate being an introvert or if I’m indifferent to it, but I know for a fact I don’t love it. It’s the most difficult thing about myself – the one thing I’m most conscious of. It’s the one thing that holds me back the most. I know I’ll never be 100%, and that I’ll never stop thinking. There’s comfort but discomfort in that.

This morning I woke up feeling ready for summer weather. The last few days have finally been sunny and warm (read: above freezing). I can’t exactly wear light layers or sandals yet, but we are getting there slowly. Beach nights and days by the pool are coming! I can feel it. All this thought about summer made me really want a change. I’ve been looking at hairstyles on Pinterest a lot lately, and realized I must have been craving a chop because all my pins have been on short locks! So very spontaneously, I called up my hairdresser to see if she could fit me in. I quickly screen shotted a few of my favourite short do’s (and took a couple before photos) then headed over to see her and I could not be more pleased with the results! I think we took off something like 8-10 inches, added in some messy layers and she quickly curled sections to give a choppy look. AGAIN I couldn’t be happier with the final result!