Hey guys! Because I am now off working at a festival this weekend, the lovely Kathy from Him & Me Blog has been very kind and jumped over here to leave her tips on her Summer Must Have's! Take it away Kathy!

Hello Everyone! My name is Kathy and I’m stopping over on Becky B’s Blog to tell you about my Summer Must Have’s!

I live in Los Angeles. Not only do I live in Los Angeles, I live in the hottest part of the city, where summer temperatures are usually above the 100 mark, and can reach 120 on the hottest of days (usually in August).

I was born and raised here so I’ve become used to the heat, but that’s because I have learned the Must Have’s for Summer!

1. Air Conditioning. I know this isn’t an option for everyone, and you might call me spoiled, but I just cannot live without air conditioning in the summer months (and a lot of the time the spring, fall, and winter as well – Thanks Global Warming!). All the homes I’ve lived in have had AC and for that I am very grateful. While it is usually recommended that we keep the thermostat at 78* to conserve energy, I have to say I usually keep it at 74 or 76. Slap my hand, I’m bad, but when it’s 120 outside, you have to do what you can to stay cool.
2. Pool. Sometimes the AC isn’t enough or it’s just the right temperature outside to go and take a dip in the pool. When I was a little girl I LOVED to go swimming. I remember watching the summer Olympics and my dad promising to take me to the pool after the swimming competition was over. When my parents bought their townhouse in 1996 they made sure it was in a complex with a pool. My husband and I bought a condo in April and it also has a pool. Pools are essential in the summer

These are my 3 nieces and nephew!
3. Ice Cream. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. It’s not like we need an excuse to eat ice cream, but it being summer makes for a good one if we did need it.
4. Tank Tops/Shorts/Dresses. I’m not one to wear shorts, I tend to stick to capris, but that’s because I have big thighs that do not go well with shorts. For those of you with short-wearing legs, this is essential. A good alternative, for me, is to stick with tank tops and dresses. The Maxi dresses are super popular this year and I love them too!
5. Sandals/Flip Flops. I hate socks. My feet don’t do well in closed surroundings. Summer is the perfect time to put the socks and shoes in storage and live in flip flops and sandals. I used to live in flip flops year round, then I got a job in which closed shoes were required. Luckily my current job only requests that sandals have a backing to them – easy enough.
6. Sunscreen. I am not good at putting sunscreen on and I have a sun mark on my forehead to prove it. However, my husband is Irish and very very white. He needs sun screen everywhere to keep from turning into a tomato so I’ve become better at this lately. It’s also very important, we do way too much damage to our skin with the amount of UV light we receive. Keep some sunscreen on hand. I like to get the sticks for my face for easier application.
7. Iced Martini. I love alcohol. Especially ice cold Martini’s and other fruity drinks. I recently discovered something that has changed my life. I always complained that there wasn’t an easy to have drink to have after a hard day at work – but thanks to Malibu brand I now have a nice cold drink to enjoy while lounging on the couch with the AC on while wearing a maxi dress. (Thank you to Amanda Nicole for reminding me of this!)
8. Sunglasses. I’m even worse at this than I am at sunscreen, but it’s a must. The sun is super bright and your eyeballs need protection as much as your skin. I tend to break mine or leave them behind when I go out, but it is something I definitely should always have with me.
9. Juicy Fruit. (and I don't mean the gum!) When the heat starts I start craving fruit. Lately it has been plums and peaches, but cantaloupe, honey dew melons, and watermelons are also great summer fruit. They are full of juice that will help keep you hydrated which is important during hot days.
10. Beach Access. Now I’m not a huge beach fan – mostly due to the sand – but on the days where it is extremely hot inland, it’s nice to head to the coast and enjoy cooler temperatures. Some days there is a 30 degree drop from where I live to Malibu. With a nice sea breeze taking the brunt of the heat away, the beach is always a great hangout during the summer

Now go have a drink (but don't drive) and enjoy some nice cool air conditioning! 

Thank you Kathy! That beach is making me want to go swimming! Do you guys have any Summer Must Have's that are not on this list? Comment below!

Until next time 

Becky x

When it comes to shoes, I prefer to go towards the boring, black, flat with the sensible design. I do own high heels, before any of you jump to assumptions, but there is no better feeling than putting on a pair of flats after being on your feet all day! You must agree with me on that!?

I currently only live in Toms and Vans, so when I was approached by Sharon at Emmy Twenty, I was a bit hesitant on straying to a new brand of shoe.

Emmy Twenty is a newly formed company after Sharon was getting slightly annoyed when her high heels would get stuck in the busy pavements and tube doors of London. After much research, Sharon found a gap in the market for fashionable leather flats, but at an affordable price.  Now the company take pride in their small collection of Ballet pumps, a timeless classic piece.

Initially I was asked to give the website feedback, but once I started browsing, there was no stopping me and next thing I know I had ordered a pair of shoes.

Invicta to be exact, in the colour Tan. A gorgeous leather shoe, with the toe piece covered in metal studs. I was really torn between these and the other amazing choices. What’s more surprising is that they’re not my chosen colour of black! Another pair of shoes on Emmy Twenty even struck a chord. My grandmother died of Ovarian Cancer when my Mum was in her late 20’s, so to find a pair of shoes with a donation going towards Ovarian Cancer was so lovely to see and great that a company had recognised an illness with little publication on. 

The shoes cost £65, now before you start wincing, that cost is a lot cheaper than a normal pair of leather shoes, and to be honest you don’t even know if you are getting genuine leather. With Emmy Twenty you are guaranteed! Sizes range from 3 to 8 and the choice of colours with the designs are all just gorgeous.

I was very impressed by the smooth method of ordering, paying and the time frame of then receiving the shoes! Very quick with free delivery in the UK! There was a lovely note from Sharon who told me it was best to walk them in with socks around the house for a bit. And she wasn't wrong!

I opened the box, and am instantly hit with the smell of pure workmanship and leather, absolutely amazing! A lot of hard work went into these shoes and you can really tell, I even have some writing in the sole which I love :) Adds a quirky and unique touch to them. 

Now for me to ensure that I gave you a true review, I allowed myself a month rather than a week. I tried them on and they were very tight, so tight I could initially keep them on for 10 minutes. I ordered a size 6 and panicked I had the wrong size. This didn't stop me and every so often I would put them on my feet and walk around the house. I suppose it has not helped that my feet are in bad shape at the moment from ill fitted work shoes, but none the less slowly the Invicta Shoes started to give in to my messed up feet and started to feel comfortable.

These are absolutely gorgeous shoes and I am so glad I picked them out, the tan ones go really well with just jeans and casual top at the moment, but am looking forward to pairing them up with other items. I would really highly recommend this small shoe shop for shoes (try saying that quickly) that are made of the highest standard, affordable and designs you will not see on the high-street. I'm actually looking at the website right now, mouse hovering over the Danson Teal ones. My Toms can move over now!

If you would like to know more about Emmy Twenty or would like to gaze over the range of shoes, you can find the link here as well as throughout the review.

Thank you, Sharon, for letting me into your world of stunning flat shoes.

Until next time

Becky x