When it is hot outside, you don't want to be adding layers and accessories to make your outfit look polished. In fact, you are probably choosing your look based on what has the least amount of pieces. The dress is the ultimate summer outfit because it is easy, light, and fun! If you choose a brightly colored and boldly patterned dress, you can minimize the need for accessories so it becomes the ultimate grab and go option. 

When I saw the Boden summer catalog, I immediately fell in love with the Maya Maxi Dress. It looks effortless, but still has tons of visual interest. I love how the model has added only sandals and a floppy hat, which lets the pattern take center stage. Last week I ordered the dress during Boden's 40% off dresses sale, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too high. Well, it just arrived this morning and I can say that it exceeds all expectations! Available in regular, long, and petite lengths and in 4 color options (2 of which are solids), this is the must-have dress of the season. 

Although it is hard to see in the full-length photo, underneath the bust line there is a band with great detailing that helps define the waist and give the maxi dress some structure. The photo below highlights that detailing and also shows another color option. (The solid colors available are black and teal.)

Although I blog about fashion and love clothing, I know very little about makeup and other beauty products. Since there are seemingly endless options to choose from, I joined Birchbox last November. This way I get a variety of samples sent to me each month (for only $10) without having to brave the beauty aisle.

I was definitely overwhelmed when I got my first couple boxes because there were so many new things to try. I only tried a few, select items out of those first boxes, but I am now making an effort to try everything, no matter how out of my comfort zone it is. So this is the first in what I hope will become a monthly installment of reviews of products from my Birchbox. 

32 Oral Care Effervescent Breath Crystals with IsoVoxy
This is the item in this month's box that I was least interested in. There are a million and one breath fresheners out there, but most of them have a very strong after taste. I don't like tasting peppermint in my mouth for long periods of time, so I am personally a fan of Trader Joe's Gingermints. I tried the lemon flavor of the breath crystals and I was pleasantly surprised that there was not a strong after taste. However, I am still on the fence about these. They are packets of little crystals that dissolve in your mouth, which sounds harmless enough, except the crystals pop and fizzle. You are supposed to swish them around for 60 seconds, which means that for a minute your mouth is full of tiny explosions. It was a very strange sensation and not one I am particularly looking forward to repeating. But the end result was fresh breath without a strong aftertaste, so it ended up being worth the effort. I probably won't buy these on my own, but they were definitely an interesting experience and I'll try the spearmint flavor at some point.

I just received my March Birchbox today so I am looking forward to trying out the new products over the next couple weeks and reporting back to you next week! Want a sneak peek at what's in my March Birchbox? Here you go.

Disclaimer: I was provided with the Timex Dress Chronograph to review, however all opinions stated here are my own.

    I hate bra shopping because I always feel like I end up settling. That is why I was so excited that Jockey was a sponsor for BlogHer13. I had read about their new volumetric fit system online and had even watched the videos and hoped that they would have a booth so I could talk to someone about the new product. But they went one step further by giving all the attendees a free fit kit of their own and it was the most exciting piece of swag I got all weekend. Now it has been over two months since BlogHer which I will pretend has been because I have been dutifully trying out my new bra and not just because I keep forgetting to write this post.

    So for anyone unhappy with their current bra, my short answer is try out their new collection. Long answer: even though I was very excited about the possibility, it surpassed my expectations. For anyone curious about how the fit kit works, I would suggest checking out their video because it will give a much better explanation than I could hope to. Basically you receive a set of ten molded plastic cups and a tape measure. You use the tape measure to determine the size of your band and the molded cups for your cup size. This gives a more customizable size than a traditional bra. Word to the wise: the molded plastic cups are the the size that the fabric cup of the bra will be. After years of "full coverage" bras not really covering as much as I had hoped, I was wary about the sizing and ended up ordering up a cup size. Huge mistake. It arrived and I immediately realized that I should have just followed the instructions and not second guessed myself.

    I did exchange it for the correct size (trust in the fit kit!) and it really lived up to the hype. The edges are so smooth that you can't see any lines even under even the flimsiest of t-shirts and their claim of a more comfortable resin alternative to underwire (of which I was quite dubious) was true. After wearing the Jockey bra for a couple weeks, I can barely believe that I was ever satisfied with my previous bras. As a large-chested woman, it is the greatest feeling in the world to be able to forget that I am wearing a bra. No surreptitious adjustments required here. You truly have to try it on to believe the difference it can make.

    Even the two small issues I have do not dampen my enthusiasm. The first is that exchanges have to be done over the phone and you end up having to send the original back as a return and just order a new one. It's not a huge deal, but I do prefer filling out an exchange form to send back with my item so I can avoid multiple credit card charges while I wait for a refund. The second is that these bras are truly full coverage so they don't work with my wrap dresses or shirts that have a deep v. Basically if you are trying to show off some cleavage, part of this bra is going to show. However, they only have a limited selection of the volumetric bras right now so hopefully as they continue to refine the product they will be able to offer demi styles.

    As an everyday bra, this is truly incredible. The tag line for the volumetric series is "the closest thing to custom" and that is what it feels like. If you have any misgivings about your current bra, order a fit kit online or head over to one of their stores. And don't think that you have to be a DD to benefit from their new sizing format; the 10 different cup sizes instead of the traditional A-DD give many more options for women of all sizes. It was one of the easiest and most rewarding bra fittings I have ever had and best of all, I got to do it in the privacy of my own home!