Happy July, cuties! I am coming to you live right now from somewhere very special (read on to learn where!) and I’m so excited to share my latest roundup of favorite things with you all this month!
Since we’re in the heart of summer, I made sure to mix in some of my fave hair and skincare products—I’m sure many of you can relate to the heat and humidity taking its toll hair and skin during the summer season—as well as a great read for your next trip, some summer-worthy KKH interior design inspiration, and…best of all…a little mini postcard from where I am currently very blessed to be spending some R&R time!
Happy reading, and remember, wherever the summer takes you: Keep calm and wear sunscreen!
Kathy’s July Favorite #1: Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
I have had the absolute joy of spending the past week in beautiful, breathtaking Australia—aka: God’s Living Room! As a creative person, traveling to new locations is one of my favorite ways to recharge and get my ideas flowing on every level, and this trip Down Under was no different. Bondi Beach, in Sydney, was especially breathtaking.
The shades of blue on display at Bondi Beach were truly unreal. Just think of a rainbow…except every color in the rainbow is s different shade of blue. Navy blue, sky blue, turquoise, cerulean, slate blue, Prussian blue—you name it, it was in the water, the sky, or somewhere in between.
“As a designer, blue has long been one of my favorite colors to work with and I can’t wait to interpret and play with this timeless color after seeing it in new ways in nature. What a gift—thank you, Bondi Beach!”
Bondi Beach, Australia
Shop Bondi Beach Blue Must-Haves
Kathy’s July Favorite #2: Ouai Haircare
You all know I *love* a female-founded brand…especially one as luxurious, high-quality, and innovative as Ouai! I’m super-picky about my haircare products that I use day in and day out: Of course, I need the products to actually work, but factors like the quality of ingredients, the variety and complexity of the scents (I’m obsessed with the St. Bart’s scent, which has notes of Orange Oil, Ocean Breeze Accord, Dragon Fruit) and the thoughtfulness behind the targeting matter so, so much!
As I mentioned, I’ve been traveling a lot and that can be tough on my hair; I really love that Ouai has a “vacation set” of their best haircare essentials in convenient travel sizes. It’s a must for long-haul trips.
Shop Kathy’s Ouai Must-Haves
Kathy’s July Favorite #3: Dr. Barbara Sturm Skincare
I couldn’t give you a female-founded haircare recommendation without following it up with an amazing female-founded skincare brand! Enter: Dr. Barbara Sturm. I have been using skincare products from Dr. Sturm for years, and they were just exceptional in terms of quality and effectiveness.
Dr. Sturm herself actually has a background in orthopedics and in developing treatments for inflammatory conditions. She put her expertise in clinical medicine, and anti-inflammatories specifically, into practice in the skincare realm with her namesake brand.
“Not only does she have clinically developed serums and creams for topical use, but also a line of skincare supplements to support your skin health from within. Genius! See below for a few of my faves that are always in my skincare line-up.”
Shop Kathy’s Dr. Barbara Sturm Must-Haves
Kathy’s July Favorite #4: Coastal Hamptons Essentials from KKH
Anyone who knows me well, knows that…if it’s summertime…and I’m not traveling to the other side of the world…you’ll find me happily in the Hamptons, soaking up the sun, the salt air, and Coastal Hamptons interior design inspo all day long! I love spending lazy days by the pool in Southampton with my kiddos, a sunset drum circle at Sagg Main Beach, or a special meal out at Topping Rose House.
Of course, here at KKH, the Coastal Hamptons style is a signature of ours and I love sharing my favorite products with you all so that you can recreate this serene, stylish, and summery aesthetic to your own home, regardless of where you happen to live.
“When in doubt, just remember that the Coastal Hamptons look is all about natural materials, a seaside-inspired color palette, and a sense of laidback luxury.”
Click to shop!
Shop the Look
Kathy’s July Favorite #5: Think Again by Adam Grant
Finally, you know it wouldn’t be a #KathysFaves roundup without a book rec! And this one is truly a must-read….so make some space in your book bag and prepare to crack it open on the beach, the plane, or wherever you’ll be turning pages this summer.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by organizational psychologist Adam Grant is a super-illuminating lesson in learning to consciously open your mind to new ideas and perspectives outside of your own.
“One of my favorite adages from Adam Grant is that he makes it one of his “guiding principles” to “argue like he’s right but listen like he’s wrong”—basically, he’s passionate about his beliefs but also passionate about learning how he could expand them.”
