Evening Lights and Delights

   Hey friends! I hope your week is off to a fabulous start!  Evening is the ABSOLUTE best time to take pictures!  Its so fun and relaxing to spend the time outside and snap away as the setting sun illuminates your photos.
   This outfit is so simple; it's a yellow sundress.  It's a summer staple for me though.  You can legit wear this sundress anywhere, anytime.  To a wedding, on the beach, to a picnic, or even for a day trip.  It just depends on how you accessorize and what shoes you wear.  Here I'm wearing a pair on beaded sandals.  Leave me a comment and tell me your summer staple!!  Enjoy!

Beach Adventures

For the past five days my family and I have been frolicking around on the beach.  The weather was absolutely glorious; not a cloud in sight, the best of breezes, and 80 degree water.  Although this isn't going to be an outfit post (probably because I spent most my time in a bathing suit), I thought I'd share some pictures of beautiful sunsets and mountainous sand-dunes. Feel free to leave comments, questions, and suggestions; enjoy!!

Beach Days

   As I write this post I'm perched comfortably in our beach house looking forward to another fabulous beach day.  These are the treasured days of summer where relaxation and fun come easy. There are no worries and no cares- except for which book I'm going to read next! 
   Fourth of July weekend was so wonderful, featured below is one of the outfits I wore.  I love this look because it's the essential little white sundress.  It's perfect for messing around on the beach, brunching, or for dinner with family.  I didn't put many accessories with it (I'm very minimalistic at the beach) but it'd be so cute with a big floppy hat and wedges; below I will link some shoe options.  

Details: Dress- Forever 21, Option one, Option two, Option three,  Bracelets- Cupcake Bangle, Crystal Bangle, Sister Bangle,  Shoes- Option one, Option two, Option three,

Sweet as a Peach

Peach picking is one of my favorite summer time activities!  My family and I recently went to Chiles Peach Orchard, we always go here to pick peaches.  It's nestled in the Mountains of western Virginia and it's oh so pretty!  There's plenty of wineries and breweries in this area which are perfect for making a day trip.  It was actually cool the day we went and I wanted a sweater but I didn't have one because who expects to be chilly in the middle of the summer?!  The outfit below is relatively simple but is a go-to for me when I go on long car rides.  I brought a nice pair of flats but wore the Converse to pick peaches.  This top is also a favorite of mine because of the gorgeous detailing; it makes it so simple to dress up or down.  Happy peach picking! 

Details:  Top- Forever 21, Option one, Option two, Option three,  Shorts- Old Navy,  Shoes- Converse  Necklace- Etsy   Bracelet- Etsy

Top Ten: Beach Weekend Essentials

The time has come for long weekends spent at the beach!  This is one of my absolute favorite parts of summer!  My family has a beach house in the Outer Banks and we spend many weekends there enjoying the gorgeous sun and surf!  Whether your planning a getaway to the beach or lake these items are your MUST HAVES for this summer! Happy summer friends!!

1. Light-Weight Tops: Easy, breezy, beautiful....Covergirl?  Nah, I'm talking about floaty blouses and shirts here.  Anything that allows you to breathe and that you can pull on easily after spending all day out in the sun is best.

Left: Option one, option two, option three, Right: Forever 21 top- option one, option two, option three,

2.  Beach Tote: Use it as a duffel bag to carry your clothes, then once you get there, use it as a beach bag.  It's that simple.
 

Option one, option two, option three, 

3.  Reading Materials:  Fill your bag up with magazines, books, and snacks.  Vogue and Porter are must reads for me!

4.  Beach Hair:  When I leave the beach and take a shower I don't want to worry about drying and styling my hair; there's no time for that!  So, my favorite thing to do is blow dry (or air dry) my hair until it's damp then squirt in some type of texturizing sea salt spray, and braid into one braid.  Wait until it's mostly dry and then take out the braid and shake. BOOM, voluptuous beach waves.  I set my hair with hairspray to make it last.  I prefer Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray or Not Your Mothers Sea Salt Spray (pictured blow).

5.  A Large Scarf or Cover-Up:  I use a large scarf tied as a sarong as a cover-up.  There are many YouTube tutorials on how to do this!            Express Scarf Pictured Below

6.  Bathing Suits:  This one is a no-brainer; of course you're going to need bathing suits if your headed to the beach or lake.  I have an obsession with bikinis but these are two of my new ones.  Left: Aerie Bikini- Option one, option two,  Right: Top- JC Penny, Bottom- Old Navy

7.  Light Summer Make-up:  For me, summer make-up means light feeling foundations, bronzey glows, and touches of mascara.  Summer make-up should be light and fresh- no crazy eye make-up or heavy powders (especially at the beach)!

Pictured below is a Pixi by Petra palette, Rimmel London Stay Matte BB cream, L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara, and Covergirl Bronzer.

8.  Sun Dresses:  Dresses are the absolute best during the summer months.  They instantly make you look like you put effort into what you're wearing (even if you didn't).  This is peerfect for when you hop off the beach and don't want to look like a mess.  Left: Monteau Los Angeles Dress- Option one, option two, option three, Right: Altar'd State Dress- Option one, option two,

9.  Sandals:  Summer=Sandals, there's no way around it.  They're easy to wear and cute no matter what.  I like to bring a dressier/ nicer pair and a pair for messing around at the beach or in the water. Left: Target Sandals, Right: Rainbows

Welcome!

Hey friends, welcome to The Chronicles of a Blonde Beauty, I'm so happy you decided to stop by! My name is Catie and I'm a quintessential blonde.  I love anything pink, I love the beach, and I definitely love fashion.  If I had to describe myself in one sentence it would be: Elle Woods meets Blake Lively. I live down south where the summers are steamy and the beaches are dreamy.  So I guess you could say I'm a bit of a southern princess.  Through this blog I hope to bring fashion and fun; so join me!

        -Many Blessings, Catie Leigh