WHAT'S IN MY AMAZON CART

I'm overdue for a new Amazon haul, ya'll. Every few months I like to order all of the things I've accumulated in my cart. For whatever reason, on Amazon I like to just add things here and there as I find them and place an order once I need need something. Most of the time everything end up being super random which is fun to unbox! 

I love Amazon for supplements, books, beauty + random items that can be harder to find in stores. Right now most of what's in my cart are beauty items. I've convinced myself that I need to start doing my own nails at home which obviously means I need new supplies, lol... any excuse to do some shopping! On a serious note, I would love to be able to perfect my at home mani pedi. I can do a shoddy paint job but nothing like the pros. It's always good to start with the basics so I figured I could use a new set of essentials. I love this brand + need some good quality clippers and nail files. I also feel like cuticles are what make or break how good your nails can look? I added this cuticle remover because it has incredible reviews and is under $5! Love that. I also threw in these cuticle nippers which I'm a little scared to use but feel like I need. The last nail related item I have is clear acrylic powder. I was chatting with a girl at Orangetheory about how great her nails looked when she told me she did them herself. She said the secret to making them last longer is added power underneath the acrylic so I'm definitely trying that! 

Also in the beauty category is this Differin Cleanser. I actually saw Dr. Dray recommend this as an underarm wash to help get rid of bacteria + keep your underarms from smelling. She said she uses this instead of wearing deodorant! I'm very intrigued about that, ya'll. I don't have any plans to quit wearing deodorant anytime soon, however I definitely want to see how this works. I switched over to natural/aluminum free deodorant about a year and a half ago which has been an eventful transition, lol. I've tried a ton of different brands and formulas, most of which have been subpar if we're just being honest. The reality is that most "clean" deodorants all lead to sweating and if you're doing a lot of physical activity, can't always block odors. My thought is that if I use both the deodorant + this cleanser together, it'll be the dynamic duo of my dreams! 

Okay, last beauty item is Castor Oil. Everyone swears castor oil is a miracle product with a ton of uses/benefits. The one that got me is that apparently it can help cleanse your gut. You apply the oil on to these oil pads which then penetrates through the skin + helps cleanse internally? I have zero clue whether it actually works but I'm interested enough to give it a try. I'll keep you posted once I try it, however it's of course always important to check with your doctor before using anything health related. 

You can always bet there is some type of book in my Amazon cart. Recently I've been in the mood for fall-themed books and I want to read In the Company of Witches next. It's been on my list for a few months now but I've been holding off for October. I'm also still debating whether I need to order the new Apple Watch... my Fitbit died a few months ago so I've been using my dad's old Apple Watch to track my steps. It honestly works perfectly fine, I'm just in one of those "should I buy my own" dilemmas right now. I love the stainless steel chain band! 

**SHOP ALL OF MY AMAZON FINDS HERE** 

I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

WHAT I WANT | SEPTEMBER

Green Wrap Bodysuit // Liquid Eyeliner // Wool Coat // Ouai Detox Shampoo // Straight Denim // Hoka Sneakers // Cropped Sweater // Hoop Earrings // Caudalie Hand Cream 

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I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

WEEKLY TO-DO LIST | 9.25.23

Ya'll, it's one of those weeks where all I want to do is CHILL. Last week was super hectic. Between work, appointments and events, it was nonstop and I am exhausted. The older I get, the more I realize how much of a homebody I am. I love getting things done, however I definitely recharge and value my me time. Sometimes adulting is also just stressful and mentally taxing, ya know? Despite the chaos, I still made it to BINGO though! If you missed last week's post, I'm in my bingo playing coastal grandmother/golden girl era. My Chicky hosts it every six weeks or so and it's so fun, hahahah. The plan for this week is to slow down a little and relax some more without completely dropping the ball. Basically just do the things I need to do + then chill tf out. This is "holding myself accountable" when the motivation is down a couple notches because the show must go on, no? I also may or may not be feeling a littleeeee uninspired with blog content today too, don't tell... lol. 

THIS WEEK'S LIST:

+WORKOUT - The idea of just skipping my workouts this week sounds really nice. I *won't* be doing that, however I still have to b*tch and moan every once in awhile. On a real note, I actually really enjoy working out and going. I haven't been sleeping as much lately which I think is throwing off my motivation a little but I always feel really good afterwards. I went to a free weightlifting class that my Orangetheory hosted on Saturday so I still have three classes to complete by the end of this week. I usually go Tuesday morning and Saturdays so this week I'll squeeze in an extra on Thursday or Friday.

+SAUNA - Very much looking forward to tomorrow's sauna visit- I love them. They're like a little reward after working out. I've been going once a week for 35 minutes and enjoy the detox time. It also has amazing health benefits and is great for muscle recovery after a workout. 

+CLEAN CAR - This one will definitely take a little bit of motivation but my car needs a deep clean. This is another one of those love/hates because I LOVE a clean car, I just hate the process. Every time I do the entire inside I end up spending an hour+ on vacuuming, etc., which is why I hate going, lol. I definitely need to be more efficient, then I would go more often! 

+SHEETS//LAUNDRY - ALWAYS! 

+START A NEW BOOK - I need something fun and fallish to read. I've been itching to start a new book or re-read Harry Potter, lol. I'm overdue on reading them all again + a movie marathon! It also just feels even more magical to watch them during the holidays. I also still have In the Company of Witches on my list too! 

+WATCH A MOVIE - I need a fun, relaxing movie day. I've already decided 10 Things I Hate About You will be hitting my screen this week. It's one of my all time favorites and I haven't watched it what feels like a year or two?? Did ya'll see the guy on TikTok who recently went to visit Stadium High School where it was filmed? How fun! His video is definitely to blame for this rewatch, lol. 

What's on your to-do list this week? 

MY ULTIMATE FALL STYLE GUIDE

Tomorrow is the first *official* day of fall- FINALLY. Over the last several weeks, I've been slowly dripping in new fall content on the blog. By this point it should be no secret that I'm a fall girlie through and through. Amazing weather, style, snacks- it's THE ultimate season which brings us to this post: My Ultimate Fall Style Guide. Here you'll find all of my favorite fall style picks + posts in one place- think sweaters, shoes, bags + more. I couldn't forget the beauty either. I like to do these "all in one" posts as a reference for combining each all separate style post and category into one. I hope it serves as a useful reference for some key fall staples you may be shopping for. As always, I'll add links for everything + will keep updating the post as I come across new fall finds. 

Green Cable Knit // Brown Square Neck // Striped Cropped Pullover // Chocolate Rib V-Neck // Khaki Sweater Tank // Cable Tie Pullover // Coat Cardi // Striped Ribbed Crewneck // Half Zip Pullover

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Leather Moto Jacket // Embroidered Blazer // Plaid Blazer Coat // Slouch Wool Coat // Shawl Collar Coat // Belted Coat // Crepe Blazer // Corduroy Bomber Jacket // Leather Blazer 

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UGG Ultra Mini // New Balance Sneakers // Black Suede Clogs // Printed Clogs // Printed Sneakers // Army Green Sneakers // UGG Slip-Ons 

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Black Leather Shoulder Bag // Green Woven Crossbody // Tan Suede Messenger // Padded Chain Crossbody // Brown Leather Crossbody // Black + Gold Convertible Clutch // Tan Leather Crossbody // Black Half Moon Crossbody 

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Nail Polish // Eyeshadow Palette // Mascara // Concealer // Fragrance // Pumpkin Candle // Beautyblender // Lippie Balm // Blush 

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I love sharing my picks with you! 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? :)

WHAT TO BUY FOR YOUR GUY | FALL + WINTER EDITION

Pullover // Kiehl's Skincare Set // Bose Headphones // Mug // Quarter-zip Pullover // Coffee Maker // Joggers // Barefoot Dreams Throw // UGG Slippers 

In honor of my dad's birthday, here are some of my go-to gifts for the men in your life. Whenever I'm gift shopping, I like to consider both the occasion and season we're in. I think it can be a nice touch to choose items based not only on what the person likes but also how/when they can use them. September is a transition month so gifting a nice sweater or pair of UGGs can be great heading into fall and winter. When in doubt, you can also never go wrong with tech, grooming or food/gift cards. Everyone loves to eat! Whether you have birthdays, anniversaries or starting your holiday shopping, I hope these will give you some inspo on what to buy for your guy. 

If you look back at some older holiday gift guides, you'll see a lot of these same types of items. Sometimes men can be tricky to shop for. In my experience, they tend to buy most of what they want and just want less than us gals do, lol. I like to give gifts that someone might not necessarily buy for themselves. That can be a particular item or an elevated version of something. Sometimes I will splurge on a nicer item here and there which you'll see in this post, however you can find all of these items at all different price points from splurgy to more affordable. I'll link lots of options below.

If you know their style, clothing CAN be a good go to. I tend to stick to the basics- joggers, socks or some type of top/pullover. My dad has a more business casual style so a nice polo or quarter-zip is usually a win. If I were buying for my boyfriend, I would probably go for something a little sportier or sports driven. 

Regular shoes can be hit or miss but UGG slippers are almost always a win. Most of the men I know wouldn't go out and purchase a pair of slippers themselves and if they did, it probably wouldn't be UGGs. I think the UGGs are one of those nice splurge items, however any cozy pair of slippers will do. When it's cooler, they're great to throw on for walking around the house, going outside, etc. Similar to that are the Barefoot Dreams blankets. Definitely another splurge that most of the men I know wouldn't buy for themselves. They will love (and use!) it though- who doesn't loves curling up with a cozy blanket on the couch?

Let's talk coffee. My dad is currently a Keurig guy so I love to buy new k-cups, mugs or accessories he can use. It's a nice and affordable way to give something they already enjoy. You could do the same with tea, fishing, books, whatever their hobbies are. For the mugs- I love these and have gifted them to both my dad & bf. They are a good size, high quality + a clean style. Guy approved! 

Most men love tech and gadgets. I'm not really in the know too much on what's hot these days but I know pretty much anyone can use headphones and they're a universal gift. I also think some self-care or men's beauty/grooming is nice if you know what they like. Skincare and cologne never go out of style. When in doubt, grab a gift card and call it a day!

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What's your go-to gift?

I love sharing my picks 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? :)

WEEKLY TO-DO LIST | 9.18.23

If you didn't know, I have a habit of creating lists for pretty much everything. Whether it be work related, chores or just fun things- I usually jot it down in my notes app. At times my mind just feels overloaded. The lists help me to organize my thoughts and serve as a brain dump of sorts. I also find they make me more productive. When I can see what I need, want or have to do- it's much more likely to get done. It also feels pretty d*mn good checking things off. You all seem to like when I share these little mini "to-do" lists so I thought I'd share a little snapshot of this week. I usually keep these short with just the highlights, fun things or "chores" that I need to but don't always want to do. I also leave work out so this is just a mini glimpse into some of my "personal" to-do list :) 

WEEKLY TO-DO LIST:

+BINGO - Alright, I'm officially entering my coastal grandmother era. I shared a little while back that my local Chick-fil-a has been doing bingo every few weeks. I happened to be there one bingo morning and they asked if I wanted to play. I obliged and ya'll, there was no going back. It's so much fun- last time I won twice! I mean who doesn't love free Chicky prizes??! Obsessed! It's on this week's schedule so ya'll know I'll be there or be square! 

+DENTIST - WAY less fun than bingo is my dentist appointment on Wednesday. Thankfully I always have good appointments but I still dread going anyway. It's just one of those things, ya know? 

+SHEETS//LAUNDRY - It's no secret that my least favorite chore is changing the sheets on my bed. I know it really isn't *that* bad, I just hate the putting them back on part. What I do love is sliding into fresh clean sheets, though. Definitely an underrated experience, especially with great sheets. I like to change mine once a week so recently I've been designating Tuesday as sheet day. 

+DAD'S BIRTHDAY - My dad's birthday is also Wednesday which means family dinner and fun. Gift shopping + cake duty is also on the schedule! 

+GYM/SAUNDA - Orangetheory and the infrared sauna has become a regular part of my weeks, however I always enjoy (and feel accomplished) going so I still add them on my list. I go to OTF and the sauna every Tuesday morning and then will add in a second workout at another random time during the week. 

+SKINCARE - One habit I'm still working on being consistent with is my skincare. Currently I am consistently inconsistent, lol. My two main priorities are to start applying my sunscreen every single day and to do my retinol serum a few nights a week. 

That's pretty much the gist of things as of now. I do need to squeeze a grocery run in somewhere and I would also love to clean my car, get a haircut + either do/get my nails done. 

What's on your agenda this week?

I love sharing my life 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? :)

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 9.15.23

Now that fall is *officially* approaching, I need it to slow down. Every year I look forward to this time of the year and the "ber" months, however now it's here and going by WAY too fast. I can't believe we're already halfway through September. I think because the weather hasn't cooled down, in my mind it still feels like summer. I need to slow it down so that I can fully embrace and enjoy the season. That's always hard with the busyness of work and the holidays coming up. Do you have anything exciting planned? I love October so I want to try and squeeze in a few fall + Halloween activities. I've also been adding some fun fall content on the blog lately which brings us to today's post- the top five most popular posts from the last month. Here they are: 

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - Okay, I'm officially running out of fresh ideas on how to "blurb" the Oura Ring Unboxing. If you're new to these posts or the blog, back in 2022 I purchased an Oura Ring + shared an unboxing in this post. The post has since become "viral" by TKD standards and is almost always at the top of these lists. I always like to share a little synopsis about each post, however it feels silly rephrasing the same every single month, haha. I will say that I'm really happy the post has been so well received and hopefully has helped someone improve their health + sleep. I am obsessed with my Oura Ring + highly recommend buying one! 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing

2. BEST LABOR DAY SALES THIS WEEKEND - Did you do any shopping for Labor Day? There were some good sales this year. This post has all of my favorite stores to shop at and while Labor Day is over, you can for sure still find some type of sale or promotion going on.

Read here: Best Labor Day Sales this Weekend

3. TRYING BOAR’S HEAD APPLE PIE HUMMUS - I always love snackie posts! This one is also giving fall, no? I was very intrigued by the Boar's Head Apple Pie Hummus so be sure to read this post if you love food content + are curious about my first impression + overall thoughts.

Read here: Trying Boar's Head Apple Pie Hummus 

4. END OF THE WEEK THOUGHTS | 8.18.23 - A little Chatty Cathy post. Every once in awhile I like to go on rants with these random "End of the Week Thoughts" posts. They're usually a reflection of how my week went, my overall mental state or what I've got going on. It's more of an emotional outlet for me, however I also love + appreciate that you all read them too. 

Read here: End of the Week Thoughts | 8.18.23

5. MY AMAZON STOREFRONT - All things Amazon here! I try to keep my storefront updated often with new finds, favorites + items on my wishlist. Right now I have a mix with a little bit of everything: books, fashion, beauty, cat stuff + more. 

Read here: My Amazon Storefront 

What's your favorite "BER" month?

FALL SHOES I LOVE

UGG Ultra Mini // New Balance Sneakers // Black Suede Clogs // Printed Clogs // Printed Sneakers // Army Green Sneakers // UGG Slip-Ons 

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I love sharing my picks 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? :)

FALL SWEATERS I LOVE

Green Cable Knit // Brown Square Neck // Striped Cropped Pullover // Chocolate Rib V-Neck // Khaki Sweater Tank // Cable Tie Pullover // Coat Cardi // Striped Ribbed Crewneck // Half Zip Pullover

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I love sharing my picks 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? :)

MY SEPTEMBER WELLNESS GOALS

Over the past month, I've been slowly getting back into my routine of prioritizing + taking better care of myself. I had a little dip back in July when my cat passed away which put my in a little bit of a funk for a few weeks. I'll be the first to admit that I always seem to struggle with finding the right balance of things, especially when it comes to food + nutrition. Lately I can tell I've been overindulging which starts to make me feel icky. Instead of just generically saying "I need to eat healthy" or "cut back," this month, I'm going to focus more on the specifics to help me get there. The overall goal is to do a little refresh physically, mentally + spiritually. Here are my top goals/intentions for the month:

+READ MY BIBLE - Despite falling off my routine a bit, I am proud to say that I've still been reading from my Bible every day. I have switched up reading in chronological order to now just choosing a random section each day, however this is one thing I've pushed myself to keep up with. 

+START A NEW BOOK - The reading has pretty much stopped everywhere else. I've been wanting to dive into a self-help book for a little inspiration so I think I'll start The Power of Now next by Eckhart Tolle. I also want to go back and re-start How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I know that if I put too much pressure or expectation on myself to read, it never happens. Instead of being too rigid with this one, I'm going to just shoot for reading a page or two a day. That has worked well for me in the past and more often than not, I end up reading way more than that. 

+WORKOUTS - I'm on month two of my upgraded OTF membership which means I can go to eight classes. As of now, I'm still excited about this change haha. When I get tired or busy during the holidays, the gym motivation may or may not drop. That being said, I'm committed to knocking these out + I also want to add in some workouts at home. I recently learned about calisthenics which I'm intrigued by + think would be really great for my overall health. 

+EAT MORE VEGGIES - Alright, back to not generalizing that I "just need to cut back." I most definitely *DO* need to cut back, however sometimes I think the restrictive nature can be counter-productive. Instead, we're going to try to just add in more veggies. The goal is to swap those in place of something less healthy I'd eat otherwise which will also add extra nutrients + vitamins. 

+EAT LESS SUGAR - One area I should be more restrictive on is sugar. Ya'll- it's bad. I have a major sweet tooth and have always been a dessert girlie through and through. I've never related to people who say they don't like desserts or sweets, haha. Give me all the cookies, candies, chocolate. Yum! That being said- we're definitely a little too friendly with each other. I'm also at the point where I know it isn't good in excess and that it can cause inflammation, etc. It's definitely a double edge sword trying to balance + still indulge a little. I know it would be unrealistic for me to completely cut out sugar but I'm going to start with limiting the obvious sugars. Cutting back on desserts and foods that have a high amount of added sugar. 

+CASTOR OIL - Have you tried using castor oil for anything? I've seen several videos on TikTok of how amazing it can be for health. I'm curious to try it out. I'd like to do one of those stomach wraps with it to see if it would help detox my body. 

Do you have any goals for September?

I love sharing my goals 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? :)

FALL BEAUTY I LOVE

Nail Polish // Eyeshadow Palette // Mascara // Concealer // Fragrance // Pumpkin Candle // Beautyblender // Lippie Balm // Blush 

-SHOP THE POST-

I love sharing my picks 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? :)

SEPTEMBER READING LIST

Happy September, you guys. It's time for another reading list post, this month largely centered on the self-help genre. I recently watched a video on emotional intelligence and how it plays a larger roll in our lives, careers and overall success. I would like to think I'm a pretty conscientious person, however I know there's always room for improvement and for me work on myself. With emotional intelligence, I also tie in being able to have control over ourselves and our own emotions. I know for a fact that I haven't fully mastered this one-- hence why Master Your Emotions is still on my reading list, lol. 

Because I've had the video on my mind ever since, I'm challenging myself to explore how I process my own emotions and interact + deal with others. Everyone knows dealing with life and it's ebbs and flows will put your mental and emotional state to the test at some point. Here are a few of the books I've found that seem like interesting reads

WHAT I WANT TO READ

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

+ Why Do I Do That? by Joseph Burgo, Ph.D. 

+ Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman 

+ Master Your Emotions by Thibaut Meurisse 

+ How to Talk to Anyone by Patrick King 

+ Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry 

**CLICK HERE FOR LINKS + MY FULL READING LIST**

What are you reading right now?

I love sharing my picks 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? :)

BEST LABOR DAY SALES THIS WEEKEND

Alright I know I said I was trying to save money BUT it's hard to pass up on a good sale. We all know holiday weekends always = major sale alert. Also if you can save on something you were already planning on buying, why not? Right now I'm focusing on being more methodical with my purchases and making sure I want (and will use) what I'm buying. I also *surprisingly* don't have too many things on my wish list right now but I have been mentally preparing for fall + picking up a few new things for the season. 

Currently that includes some new jeans, maybe a jacket or two + some beauty items. It's always fun to switch up the vibe with each season, especially with makeup. Abercrombie makes some of my favorite denim so I'll try to snag a pair or two with the discount if they have my size. I've also had my eye on this NEST rollerball oil for a few months now which is 25% off this weekend. That's the best discount I've ever seen for NEST anything. If you need some good fall candles, theirs are so good. I've also added in all of my favorite places to shop + their weekend Labor Day sales. Let me know what you're shopping for!

BEST LABOR DAY WEEKEND SALES

+ Abercrombie  (25% off select styles + extra 15% off almost everything)

+ Agent Nateur (20% off with code BACKTOSCHOOL) 

+ American Eagle (25-70% off everything including new arrivals)

+ Anthropologie (extra 40% off sale) 

+ Bloomingdale's (take an extra 30% off clearance for a total savings of 50-65%) 

+ MAC Cosmetics ($20 off $75, $30 off $100 + $50 off $150) 

+ Macy's (extra 20% off select sale & clearance items with code LABOR) 

+ Madewell (30% off pre-fall styles + extra 40% off sale) 

+ Nécessaire (free full-size The Body Retional with orders of $50+) 

+ Neiman Marcus ($100 off orders of $400 or $250 off $1000 with code NMSEPT) 

+ NEST (25% off all orders with code FALL25) 

+ Nordstrom (up to 60% off sale + bonus Nordstrom Notes offer) 

+ Old Navy (up to 60% off storewide) 

+ Sephora (up to 50% off select products + earn 500 bonus points with a $75 purchase using code POINTSEARN)

+ Static Nails (25% off site wide with code LD23) 

+ Ulta (50% off daily beauty steals + 5X points on all purchases) 

+ Urban Outfitters (extra 40% off sale styles)

PS-- don't forget to use Rakuten to earn that cash back! If you haven't signed up, it's totally free and if you sign up with my referral code, you can earn an extra $30 bonus on your first purchase of $30 or more! 

Are you shopping for anything?

I love sharing my picks 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? :)