Friday, February 7, 2025

WHAT I WANT | FEBRUARY




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I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

NEW BEAUTY + SKINCARE HAUL




I've been a little shoppy lately in the beauty department. Between my birthday last month and needing to revamp my skin a bit, I have some fun new purchases to share with you. 

As part of my birthday gift, I decided to finally splurge on the Valentino Born in Roma Green Stravaganza perfume. This is the first scent I've smelled and enjoyed on my skin in years- it's seriously so so good. I opted for this gift set with a full-size bottle and an extra travel-size, however I found it on sale for 25% off right now here! I'm not sure how long the sale will last but that's an amazing deal! 

I haven't bought too much actual makeup lately, just a new concealer. I've always loved this one- it's super high coverage with a great shade range. 

Lately my main priority has become my skin. I've been working on clearing up some pesky breakouts and staying consistent with my skincare products. This week she went on a major freakout- I think my monthly derma plane on Monday was a bad mood. Right now everything is a little dry and flaky so I'm grabbing for extra hydration and moisture. I decided to try out these Dr.Jart+ face masks to help give my skin a little boost- these rubber ones are so neat looking! I picked up a moisturizing one, a soothing one + a pack of these moisturizing sheet masks with Hyaluronic Acid

I'm also excited to finally try this ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. I've heard everyone rave about this product for years and since I was in the market for an oil-based cleanser to take off makeup, I decided to purchase. I think adding back in an extra step with my micellar water will help my skin and make sure all of my makeup is fully removed. I did a restock on my favorite cotton pads too- I use them with the micellar water for my eyes + face. They are hands down the best cotton pads I've ever used + 100% worth the splurge! For under eyes, I've been trying out this OSEA eye serum that is anti-aging and targets dark circles and puffiness with Hyaluronic Acid and peptides. I love how cooling it feels on my skin! 

What's in your skincare lineup right now?

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I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

Monday, February 3, 2025

LOVE + RELATIONSHIP BOOKS TO READ IN FEBRUARY



In the spirit of February and Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share nine different books to read in the love + relationship space. A few of the books on this list I've already read, the rest piqued my interest enough for future reads. I haven't really dove too far into the "love and romance" book genre, however I find a lot of content I see about dating and relationships online to be super interesting and engaging. Reading wise I tend to gravitate towards more self-help, goal setting + personal improvement. That being said, it feels a little fun and festive to throw something new into the mix this month. I love embracing the holidays and theming whatever it is I'm reading or watching around them! Valentine's Day in particular has always been a fun one for me. 

All of these have great topics and interesting angles when it comes to dating + relationships. A few also hone in on our own personal relationship with ourself. Love that! In a lot of ways I guess these do cross over into "personal development" territory and for good reason: you have to love yourself well before you can love others. If you're looking to enrich your relationships in life, I think that all of these are great picks. I'm trying to decide which one I want to read next... 

The 5 Love Languages has been un-read on my shelf for at least two or three years now- maybe it's the month to finally crack it open? Lol. I'm also gravitating towards The Mastery of Love, I always love a little added wisdom! 

LOVE + RELATIONSHIP BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH:

You can read the synopsis + shop each book by clicking on the title below: 

+ The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz 

+ The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene

+ 8 Rules of Love by Jay Shetty 

+ Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller 

+ It Begins with You by Jillian Turecki 

+ The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman 

+ Love Life by Matthew Hussey 

+ Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov


Have you read any of these? If so, let me know what you think about them!



I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

Friday, January 31, 2025

JANUARY FAVORITES


We survived and made it to the end of January, ya'll. This month really felt like it lasted three years! The end of 2024 and the holiday season feels like it was lifetimes away, lol. I'm excited to kick off February and welcome in some warmer weather here in Tennessee. My January was full of so many new things + good finds. I spent a lot of the month focused on my personal wellness + fitness goals. Getting back into a routine is always an adjustment but a lot of my favorites from this month were a huge help + kept my on track with my progress. I also have a few beauty + lifestyle faves too! 

In the beauty realm, I've been obsessed with the Colorescience Flex Face Sunscreen- it is so so good. I've always loved the original formula too but I love that the Flex offers different shades and just a bit more coverage! It's basically a tinted physical sunscreen (a must for me - zinc oxide for the win!). It blends in like a dream, protects the skin and just gives a fresh, dewy glow. I have the shade "Fair" but it comes in several colors- you definitely need to try it out! Also a new favorite to my skincare lineup is the Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray. The spray is designed to help soothe and renew the skin with hypochlorous acid. It's been helping to clear up some pesky breakouts I've had + just makes me skin look brighter and healthier! 

Since learning how to do my own nails at home, I've accumulated a mini collection of DND gel polishes which are the best. One of my most recent purchases that I wore all month long is #321 Goodie Bag. It's the most beautiful mid-tone blue- I'm obsessed. I've also received so many compliments- she's gorgina! 

I've also been wearing this cream contour stick religiously-- I have the shade Bondi Belle. It helps to shape my face and add a bit of warmth which I love, especially during the more dreary months. I've also been using this skin cream religiously all month long too. My hands have been SO dry, it's awful. Between the heat and my obsessive hand washing, my knuckles get so cracked. It came in this hand mask set with some gloves and it's been a lifesaver. It's so rich, thick + extremely moisturizing. I use it with the gloves overnight and I swear my hands are transformed by the morning. You can also use the cream on elbows feet, etc. and it's super affordable! 

Both these Crest whitening strips and these sleep gummies made it into my favorites too. If you ever need a little confidence boost, whiten your teeth! It's a super easy, quick and pretty affordable self care step. Let's talk about the sleep gummies. I typically shy away from sleep supplements but sometime in Nov/Dec  my sleep started getting a little out of whack. I'll attribute it to stress/cortisol because I was either waking up a few hours into the night or just unable to fall asleep. I started using these gummies and they've worked so well for me. I definitely don't use them every night- usually just whenever I feel especially tired and want to go to bed on time or if I can't seem to fall asleep- but as soon as I take them, I'm out within 15-30 minutes. They have melatonin, lemon balm + magnesium which I also like and they taste yummy. 

Let's talk diet and exercise. I'm sure most of us kicked the year off with new health + fitness goals. Mine were to get back into the gym, move more + just cut back on my diet a little bit. I've tried to prioritize eating more protein and less sugar/junk. It took me a few weeks to get into the groove but we're doing it! I've been aiming for a calorie deficit these past few weeks and think I've lost about four pounds so far. Because it was my birthday, I've been a little more lax this week but pretty consistent overall. Probably the biggest thing that's helped me this month is using this food scale. I've been able to use it to track my portions + overall calories which makes things so much easier. If you're wanting to make a change or just cut back a bit, definitely consider purchasing one. While you can definitely still do it without one, it takes a lot of the guesswork out and is definitely more accurate. I've had this exact one for years and I highly recommend. It's great- affordable, easy to operate and gets the job done! 

With my calorie deficit, I've also been limiting most snacks but I'm back on my favorite popcorn from Lesser Evil. This has been one of my favorite healthy snacks for years- I know I've shared it a few times here and there on the blog. It's delicious, has minimal (and clean) ingredients and you can have a lot for low calories. I love both the Himalayan Sweetness and the Himalayan Gold flavors- yum! 

For Christmas my sister bought me this YETI Water Bottle which I've also been loving. I'm not the greatest when it comes to drinking water- it's definitely hit or miss for me. As silly as it sounds, having the new bottle has helped some! Because it's fun and new, I've been more motivated to use it which has led to me drinking more water.

Last on the list this month are my UGG Ultra Minis. I've always been an UGG girlie- you can't convince me they aren't the best! They are easy to wear, warm + cozy. This month they're pretty much the only shoes I've been wearing and are a new favorite of mine. I prefer the look of the shorter styles now and think you can get away with wearing them dressed up a bit (jeans, etc.) or more casual with leggings. 

Okay- that was A LOT. So many good finds this month, though! It's crazy how much of a difference it makes having things that help enhance your life- either functionally or that just make you feel better. Let me know if you try any of these out, I'd love to hear what you think! P.S.- I'll have all of my favorites linked here for you! 

*SHOP ALL OF MY JANUARY FAVORITES HERE*

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

WHAT I WANT FOR MY BIRTHDAY


In honor of yours truly (I turned 31 today!)- here's a little "what I want for my birthday." I always feel the need to preface these wish lists with a disclaimer that this is a to-me, from-me kind of list. I never ask for anything when it comes to birthdays and holidays and that's also why I only post these on the day-of (hehe), however I do love a little treat myself moment. I think special occasions are a good opportunity to splurge a bit if I can swing it! Most of the items on this list are more splurgy items I've been eyeing for awhile-- some you might recognize from previous "what I want" posts. 

The shopper in me loves discovering new things and it's also fun content to share here with you! If I buy anything, my top pick right now is the Omnilux Contour Mask- I've had it on my wish list for close to two years now. It also seems like a fitting gift for a birthday- a little anti-aging to combat the day, no? I'm also obsessed with these sunglasses- they are so so good. What would be your pick? It's kind of a lost cause trying to pick a favorite item from your own wish list, lol. 

On a sentimental note, I'm grateful for another trip around the sun today. Getting to celebrate and spend time with my family is my favorite gift. I usually feel a little sad on birthdays- this year not as much. It's always a weird feeling "losing" another year of youth, but gaining another year of age and wisdom is a blessing. I also feel a lot more excited and hopeful for the year-maybe that's what happens once you're in your 30s...?? It feels like things are just starting to get good!  

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I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 


Monday, January 27, 2025

VALENTINE'S DAY GRAPHIC TEES



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I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

Friday, January 24, 2025

NEW SPRING BOOK RELEASES ON MY RADAR


NEW SPRING 2025 BOOK RELEASES:

You can read the synopsis + shop each book by clicking on the title below: 

+ Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez 

+ How to Love Better by Yung Pueblo 

+ The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom

+ Deep End by Ali Hazelwood 

What was the last book you read?


I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)