lola's secret beauty blog

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Things to do in LA: Getty Center Museum This Summer!

(Unaffiliated Links)

If you live in or near Los Angeles, or will be visiting Los Angeles this summer, then I highly recommend making a trip to the Getty Center. Their Permanent Collection and all of their exhibitions are amazing, but their gardens and architecture are also noteworthy. They also have evening concerts, lectures, and all sorts of activities to do, and it is definitely worth the trip.

It is also important to note that the Getty Center is temporarily closing for serious renovations beginning on March 15, 2027 and will reopen in the spring of 2028 just before the Olympics comes to Los Angeles. Therefore, you have less than a year to visit the Getty Center before it closes for a little over a year of renovations. HERE is information about the closure and renovations.

Saturday, July 11, 2026

The Beauty & Style Spotlight Team Summer Week in Review

Angie from Your True Self Blog finds color to be so much fun when building an outfit. From her Color Series, she is presenting a few ideas for how to choose what color accessories to wear with your outfits.

The Boxwalla June Beauty Box: The Science of Stillness featuring Twelve Beauty is truly covet-worthy, and Lola's Secret Beauty Blog recommends getting yours before it sells out! A+

Looking for the perfect buildable summer blush? Allison from Never Say Die Beauty recommends Be Your Own Desire Liquid Blush now that she’s figured out the correct product name and usage!

Terri from A Good Life shares her personal thoughts and feelings on growing older in this post about longevity beauty, the type of beauty that comes from taking care of yourself. Where are you in your longevity beauty life?

Friday, July 10, 2026

YETI Camino Tote 35 in Desert Bloom Review

Purchased (Affiliate Links)

YETI Camino Tote 35 in Desert Bloom is my latest YETI obsession, and it is just what I needed for my many overnight trips by car. My regular overnight tote bag is cavernous and inefficient, and I needed something more accessible and structured to do the trick, and this ticked all of the boxes for me. This is a very structured and sturdy bag that retains its shape and stands up on its own. It has a tough puncture proof exterior and the whole bag is waterproof. The interior lining opens on the sides– which allows you to stow two large bottles of water– and the molded EVA bottom is waterproof, and it keeps the bag upright at all times. It has two large zippered interior pockets, and has enough storage space for 4 nights away from home for me. While this bag doesn't have a zipper top, it does have an interior buckle to fasten the top. What's amazing is that this tote can be hosed down to clean it!

I selected Desert Bloom– which matches my YETI coffee cup and water bottle– but there are plenty of other colors from which to choose.

About the YETI Camino Tote 35 in Desert Bloom,

The rugged YETI Camino 35 Carryall stands up to your dirtiest tasks. Its waterproof base and stand-up construction hold up when placed in puddles or mud.

Features:

Toss the straps over your shoulder, or pick it up with the CrossBar™ handles.
Waterproof, puncture-resistant ThickSkin™ shell keeps moisture and frays at bay.
Sturdy molded EVA bottom keeps the bag upright, so water stays out.
Cleans up easily with a quick hose-down.
Deployable dividers keep your gear organized and at the ready; simply tuck away the dividers when not in use to create one large compartment.
2 interior zippered pockets.
Hitchpoint™ grid lets you easily attach bottle openers or the YETI SideKick Dry® gear case (accessories not included).
Please note: This product is not a cooler.

This is what the waterproof bottom of the YETI Camino Tote 35 looks like. It also has the benefit of keeping the bag upright as well.

You can use the long handles to carry the bag over the shoulder, or the bars to carry it in your hand.

Additional Information:

Best Use: Multisport
Bag Style : Tote Bag
Gear Capacity (L): 35 liters
Gear Capacity (cu. in.): 2,136 cubic inches
Number of Exterior Pockets: None
Material(s): ThickSkin Shell
Dimensions: 18.1 x 15.2 x 9.8 inches
Weight: 3 lbs. 14.4 oz.
Gender: Unisex

Overall Assessment: This was such a smart and practical purchase for me. This is absolutely perfect for my overnight trips, and it carries everything that I could need for up to 4 nights away from home. It is also a wonderful bag for the beach, picnics or anything else you can imagine, but it is not a cooler. It will, however, hold a remarkable amount of equipment and clothes.

$160.00 from YETI, REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon and Ace Hardware (Affiliate Links. Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

The Yeti Rambler Stackable Cups I Purchased

Purchased (Affiliate Links)

As I have said before, I am a huge fan of YETI products, and I use their insulated stackable cups all of the time for hot and cold liquids. I am over-the-moon about their new color, Pace Purple, but I needed a mug before they released the new color on July 7, and therefore I purchased two of these cups for the 4th of July weekend to use them during the holiday.

I purchased the 16 oz. versions because they are perfect for coffee, tea and hot cocoa. The colors I purchased were Dessert Bloom (for me) and Navy (for my husband). YETI Rambler Stackable Cups fit perfectly in car cup holders, and the MagSlider lid keeps your hot and cold beverages free from splashing. They keep hot liquids piping hot all day, and cold liquids very cold all day long. I also love that the lid and cup are dishwasher safe, and that is precisely how I wash mine. These are also great for camping, traveling, the office, or just using around the house.

According to YETI,

Save space at camp and at home with your new go-to cup. The versatile YETI® Rambler® 16 oz. Stackable Cup is ideal for morning coffee, juice to go, iced tea, or camp cocktails. This cup holder friendly Rambler® Drinkware comes with the splash-resistant MagSlider™ Lid to protect your beverage in the truck and on the boat. Like the entire Rambler® Family, it’s over engineered to survive any trip, and double-wall vacuum insulated to keep whatever you’re sipping at the perfect temp. Please note: This magnet slider is not leakproof and will not prevent spills.

Features:

18/8 Kitchen-grade stainless steel construction for extreme durability
Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps your beverages at the perfect temperature
Space-saving stackability
MagSlider™ Lid is splash-resistant
Cup holder compatible
Dishwasher safe
Capacity: 16 oz.

Overall Assessment: I am such a huge fan of YETI, and the 16 oz. cups are perfect for hot or cold liquids all year round.

$28.00 for 16 oz. from YETI, REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nordstrom, Amazon and Ace Hardware (Affiliate Links). Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

YETI Rambler Vacuum Bottle Chug Cap & Straw Cap Review

Purchased (Affiliate Links)

As you can clearly see, I have been on a YETI purchasing spree lately because it is summer and we want to be prepared for outings that involve long hours spent outdoors, and therefore upping our water bottle game was essential.

I bought two 26 oz. YETI water bottles: The YETI Rambler Bottle with a Chug Cap in Desert Bloom for me, and the YETI Rambler Bottle with Straw Cap in Navy for my husband. I prefer to unscrew the lid rather than sip through a straw since I work in a germy environment, and don't want my mouth on the lid of the bottle. My husband, on the other hand, works around far fewer people, and prefers the convenience of a built-in straw. We both bought the same colors as our recently purchased YETI coffee cups, and we are so happy with our purchase.

Choosing the cap style that is right for you:

Screw cap: Simple, threaded lid that's durable and easy to clean thanks to fewer parts.
Lid with straw: Helps reduce splash back; may be harder to clean due to smaller parts.
Push/pull caps: Common on bike water bottles; allow hands-free opening and closing.

Left to Right: The YETI Rambler Bottle with a Chug Cap in Desert Bloom for and the YETI Rambler Bottle with Straw Cap in Navy.

YETI Rambler 26 oz. Bottle with Chug Cap in Desert Bloom: As noted, I selected the Chug Cap, rather than the Straw Cap, because I work in a very germ-filled environment, and don't want to put my mouth on the top of the water bottle– which you have to do when you use the straw version. The 26 oz. is a perfect size for outings, and it keeps ice cold liquids cold for more than 24 hours. While this has a small opening, you simply have to unscrew the top to add ice into the bottle. It is fully dishwasher safe, which is the only way that I wash my water bottles, and it is very durable, sturdy and well-made. This is a great water bottle for the summer season, and mine is already clocking lots of hours of use.

According to YETI,

Brimming with quality, durability and performance from top to bottom, inside and out, the 26 fl. oz. YETI Rambler vacuum bottle is topped off with a fan-favorite Chug cap.

Features:

2-part cap is topped with a TripleHaul™ handle for grab-and-go ease and anchored with an incredibly strong, clear spout so you're always aware when a top-off is needed.
100% leakproof, so you can go ahead and toss the whole bottle-and-cap combo in your gym bag, truck, raft—you get it—without thinking twice.
Dishwasher safe.
Includes Chug Cap.
Please note: Do not use the YETI Rambler Water Bottle with carbonated or pulp beverages, or for storage of food or perishables.

Specs:

Liquid Capacity (L): 0.77 liters
Liquid Capacity (fl. oz.): 26 fluid ounces
Dimensions: 3.375 x 11 inches
Water Bottle Material: Stainless Steel
BPA Free: Yes
Insulated: Yes
Bottle Opening: Wide
Cap Type : Screw Cap
Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz.

YETI Rambler Vacuum Water Bottle 26 oz. with Straw Cap in Navy: Like the Chug Cap version, 26 oz. is a perfect size for outings, and it keeps cold liquids cold for more than 24 hours. It is fully dishwasher safe, and it is very durable, sturdy and well-made. This is a great water bottle for the summer season, and my husband is using this bottle daily. If you love the convenience of a straw, then this is an excellent choice.

According to YETI,

Sized to hold just the right amount for a day on the boat or at the beach, while still fitting in your backpack, the 26 fl. oz. YETI Rambler vacuum water bottle comes with a leak-resistant straw cap.

Features:

Comes with a wide-straw insert, so you get more drink with every sip.
18/8 stainless steel resists dents and drops.
Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps ice longer and drinks colder.
Leak-resistant cap—carry it with confidence.
Easy to carry, thanks to the TripleHaul™ handle.
Dishwasher-safe.
Please note: Do not use the YETI Rambler Water Bottle Straw Cap with hot, carbonated or pulp beverages, or for storage of food or perishables.

Specs:

Liquid Capacity (L): 0.76 liters
Liquid Capacity (fl. oz.): 26 fluid ounces
Dimensions: 11.05 x 3.5 x 3.45 inches
Material(s): 18/8 stainless steel
Bottle Opening: Wide
Cap Type: Lid With Straw
Weight: 1 lb. 4.3 oz.

Overall Assessment: We are both delighted by our new water bottles, and we each selected the bottle top that best suits our individual needs and preferences. YETI makes high quality vacuum water bottles, and they are definitely worth the investment.

$40.00 for YETI Rambler Bottle 26oz with Chug Cap from YETI, REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon and Ace Hardware (Affiliate Links). Purchased.

$40.00 for YETI Rambler Vacuum Water Bottle 26 oz. with Straw Cap from YETI, REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon and Ace Hardware (Affiliate Links). Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Preview

(Affiliate Links)

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts July 18 for the general public, and it begins earlier for Nordstrom cardholders (as shown below). There is an overwhelming variety of beauty finds, and so many great deals across all departments! Below you will see a small selection from the Anniversary Sale Beauty deals!