NIKE FREE METCON 5 UNBOXING

For the last few months, I've been on the search for a new pair of workout shoes. I do a lot of walking, HITT classes and weightlifting at home so I wanted an all-in-one cross-training shoe that I could use for everything. Over the last few years I've been wearing the HOKA Clifton 8s for most of my workouts. I definitely went out of my comfort zone purchasing them and while they've been decent shoes, I was never in love with them. I think maybe a different style would have suited my lifestyle better! 

My biggest issue has been they lack stability and support for weightlifting. Hokas definitely have a chunkier sole which elevates the foot and in my experience, causes the heel to slip up a lot. I notice this the most when lifting, doing lunges, etc. 

After doing a bit of research, I kept seeing the Nike Free Metcon 5 pop up as one of the best options for cross-training. I've never really bought any Nike shoes so I didn't know what to expect, however the reviews sold me. I also like the style of the shoe so we're going to give them a try! I like that they look sleek and a little funky. Also way way less chunky than the HOKA, haha. 

My first initial thoughts are that they're very light on the feet + they do feel stable. They don't bend much at all. I haven't broken them in yet so I can't comment on comfortability but straight out of the gate they are more firm. This doesn't surprise me, especially in comparison to something like the HOKA. 

I also sized up from an 8 to an 8.5 which fits great. I do know Nikes historically run small and many of the reviews also suggested that so if you're interested in purchasing, I think it's a good tip! 

These are just my first impressions and I'm excited to see if these enhance my workouts. I'll definitely keep you posted as I break them in over the next few months! 

Do you have a favorite workout shoe? 

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APPLE AIRPODS MAX UNBOXING

I think I'm one of the cools kids now, ya'll. My boyfriend gifted me a pair of the Apple AirPods Max for Christmas which has me feeling like all the TikTok it girlies. At my age, I don't really buy into the latest greatest when it comes to technology anymore. When I was younger, having the newest phone or iPod was a must, probably because I grew up while the first iPod and iPhones were coming out. Technology was new, fresh and exciting. Everything was so radically different and cool. It also seemed to change and adapt very quickly. 

Now, I feel like the standard (*for me*) has been set when it comes to things like the iPhone or Apple Watch. There are always new features and tweaks, but at the core they're very much the "same" as the original if that makes sense? Maybe that's just a sign that I'm getting old, lol. When you're young, I think those things are a lot more important. Now I just want something that works until it doesn't. It takes a lot for something techie to really grab MY attention but I have to give Apple credit where credit is due- they got me with these maxes, ya'll. 

When I first started seeing them, I just thought they were cool. Over the ear headphones aren't a new, revolutionary concept by themselves, but in true Apple fashion- I think they did that in their own way. Whether you like Apple products or not, I think it goes without saying that their overall design and aesthetic is very unique and specific to them. Everything is clean and sleek. The maxes are modernized but on the contrary, a bit retro too. 

While I thought they were cool, I've been bonded to the OG Apple earbuds for years now (anyone else have all the original pairs from every iPhone or iPod you've ever owned? lol...) and never felt the need to replace them. I mentioned in passing once or twice to my bf that I thought the maxes were cool and would be a neat splurge to have, however I didn't think much of it. Fast forward a few months later to Christmas + he surprised me with the silver/white pair which was so sweet + thoughtful. I love them! PS- because they're a lighter color, I also just ordered these silicone covers to help protect them. 

I thought I'd share a little unboxing with you + my first initial thoughts. I'm still new to them but I think I can confirm that the maxes are in fact very much cool. The devil is always in the details for me which is why I've always been an Apple girl. I love how their products work but the little innovative details they add really make the difference. A few things I like on the headphones specifically- the case design is simple + sleek with a magnetic closure- very cool. I also didn't know that the sound moves + adjusts with your head- also very cool. Obviously the look, vibe + packaging- very very cool. Always a fan of the little things- the bells and whistles. 

I also think they're very comfortable too. My only real experience with over the ear headphones were those headsets we had to wear in computer class at school, lol. They use to squeeze your head but these thankfully do not, haha. The sound is also good, the noise-cancellation on the other hand is still new to me. I'm trying to get use to it but as of now, I like them better with it turned off. 

As with all Apple products, connecting them to all my other devices is easy peasy. As far as the actual unboxing, 10/10 for the packaging. Sleek, sturdy + all that is Apple. In the box comes the AirPods, case, a charging cable + instructions. This isn't new but I will still gripe on Apple for taking the charging bricks out of everything, lol. While I'm sure we all have them, that was a petty decision on their part that is goofy IMO. 

My overall first impression-- I'm too cool for school now + if you've been thinking about buying a pair for yourself, you can be too. 😉🤗🎧

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What color would you pick?

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SUNDAY FOREVER FRAGRANCE UNBOXING

In my hunt for a signature summer scent, I came across the brand Sunday Forever. I’ve been having a full blown coconut moment lately- from cocktails to cake, I'm obsessed. I was never a big fan of the texture growing up but I always loved the smell, taste + tropical yumminess. It seems as if I'm re-discovering my love + then some now that it's summer. Coconut also seemed like a good place to start for a summer scent. Now don't get me wrong- I want to eat a piece of coconut cake BUT I don't want to smell like one. I love a coconut smell but didn’t want anything just straight up coconut, too fruity or artificial. I wanted a more sophisticated coconut- something subtle, complex and just yummy. Irresistible! I came across the Sunday Forever “Coconuts” perfume which initially caught my eye because of the gorgeous bottle! So pretty right?

The description + the reviews are what won me over: "addictive, ethereal, warm and sparkling. Not too sweet, no tropical fruit, just pure toasted coconut magic." I also found out Sunday Forever sells lots of other items including a few more scents: Eau De Babe and Smokeshow. An even bigger win-win is that they sell small sample sizes of each scent which I think is amazing + what I ended up purchasing. Scent is such a personal, chemical experience. Even if you like how something smells out of the bottle, it's always important to give it a little test drive. 

I opted for their Tiny Try Me Duo which comes with a mini Coconuts perfume + a mini Eau De Babe perfume. Eau De Babe is a slightly altered version of Coconuts with an added Oud touch. It just made sense to also grab a sample of Smokeshow too while I was buying, right? In the name of research, we might as well give it a go too. Smokeshow is a blend of blonde woods, whipped musk, bergamot and vanilla orchid.

Right out of the bag, I really like how all three scents smell. There is an intriguing element to all of them- Coconuts being the most subtle to me. Both Eau De Babe + Smokeshow have a little something extra in there. A little extra kick or spice, if you will. I can't put my finger on which one I like the best out of the bottles but I'm definitely going to try them all out + see which one wears the best on me. 

Let's talk a little packaging too! I give them an A+ here. Everything arrived safely + was wrapped up nicely. I love the extra details on the card inserts, the free button + the actual look and feel of the sample bottles. They are made of glass + came with a nice fabric pouch for travel. The overall vibe is very clean + sophisticated. 

What is your go-to fragrance?

DAMDAM BESTSELLERS BENTO BOX | UNBOXING

I always get excited about trying and sharing new skincare so a little unboxing seemed fitting. I've been getting a few dry patches on my face lately and figured it was time to buy a new moisturizer. While on the hunt, I came across the brand DAMDAM on Sephora. More specifically, their Mochi Mochi Luminous Cream. I almost just purchased the full-size of the cream until I saw this little Bento Box of bestsellers. You can never go wrong with Japanese skincare + the entire line is "clean" so I thought why not? I'm also always a sucker for packaging so obvi the little wooden box got me! 

I hadn't heard of DAMDAM previously but the reviews on their products are insane. Pretty much everything gets a five-star so I have high hopes. Here's everything that comes in the kit: 

+ DAMDAM Nomad's Cream Purifying Cleanser (1.05oz/30g)
+ DAMDAM Silk Rice Cleansing Oil (1.01oz/30ml)
+ DAMDAM Paradisi Mist Hydrating Essence (1.01oz/30ml)
+ DAMDAM Mochi Mochi Luminous Cream (0.35oz/10g)

I love the assortment of products-- I use all of these "types" of skincare on a pretty regular basis. It's nice to have both a cleansing oil to break down + take off makeup, as well as a regular (in this case "purifying") cleanser to wash. The Mochi Mochi cream is described as a "potent yet weightless" lightweight formula which sounds nice for the spring & summer. I've always had pretty normal-to-dry skin so I tend to like a richer formula. Like most sprays, the Paradisi Mist is a two-in-one hydrating mist and setting spray. 

I can't wait to try everything out + will definitely keep you posted on how they work! 

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What are some of your favorite skincare products?

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? :)

SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE | UNBOXING

I wanted to share with you a little unboxing of the She Reads Truth Bible today. I’ve never owned a "pretty" Bible before or one that's women specific so I decided to purchase one. I loved the idea of having a Women's Bible that is more relatable and easy to apply to my life. I went on the hunt and came across the She Reads Truth Bibles which are the CSV version. Besides the NKJV, I’m not too familiar on all of the different translations but I was told that the CSV is much easier to understand. If you want to know the official definition, here's the 411 according to Wiki, "The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is a modern English Bible translation of the Christian Bible. Work on the translation was completed in June 2016, with the first full edition released in March 2017. The translation was updated in February 2020." 

This sounded great because if I'm being totally real (which you know I always am), I haven't cracked my previous bible open in awhile nor did I ever as much as I should. After reviewing a lot of the different Women Study Bible options, I decided to go for the She Reads Truth Bible by Amanada Bible Williams and Raechel Myers. It checked the boxes of being made for women, having a nice modern look and there are a lot of extra features that my other Bible doesn't have. These include maps, charts, timelines and instructions on how to read the Bible.

I’ve always wanted to read the Bible in its entirety, however have never really known where to begin. I’m excited that this has both reading plans and devotionals to help provide some guidance on how to start.

I also think having a beautiful Bible can add to the experience + will encourage me to use it more. There are several different finishes + covers to choose from. They have hardcovers, soft leather bound Bibles and linen covers. I ended up purchasing this one which is a grey linen binding. It also comes with a matching storage box and two built-in satin ribbon bookmarks. I debated between the grey linen and this neutral hardcover style. I ended up going for the grey because I felt the linen fabric might be more durable over time + it had the storage box. I chose to purchase the non-indexed version so that I could add my own tabs (I purchased these), but they also offer an indexed version too. You can browse all of the different versions they make here. 

What color would you choose?

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AGENT NATEUR BLACK FRIDAY SALE UNBOXING

Some of my Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases are starting to arrive which means it’s time to unbox! One of my most exciting purchases this time around was from Agent Nateur— they're a clean, luxury skincare brand you can read more on in my previous posts here & here. Jena and the holi(trinity) collection are amazing so the sale was the perfect time to pick up a few new things. 

holi(glow) eye serum | holi(cleanse) cleansing face oil | acid(wash) lactic acid brightening cleanser | holi(stick) N3 Deodorant | (aime) deodorant

My first priority was deodorant. Agent Nateur first started and gained recognition for their holi(stick) N3 Deodorant which is all-natural and aluminum free. I’ve been wanting to make the switch to a healthy deodorant for awhile now so I'm finally making the switch. I decided to go for the original holi(stick) N3 and the (aime) probiotic deodorant. I also love the look of holi(man) and should have ordered it too! It’s a unisex scent and the black packaging is super sleek and cool. If I like the formula, I will definitely order it next time. From opening, I like the scents of both the N3 and the (aime). My favorite so far is N3, however I haven’t tested them on me yet. I’ll be interested to see how the switch goes + if I have one of those weird detox periods everyone talks about. If you use natural/aluminum free deodorants, do you have any feedback or tips on switching? 

On to skincare! I’ve been trying to give my skin a break from most products lately due to some stubborn redness/what looks like eczema. I’m not entirely sure if I had a bad reaction or if my skin is just acting up. I’ve had some small areas on my eyelids and around my nose/cheek that has been red and bumpy. 

I think it could be from another cleanser or makeup remover I have so I’m crossing my fingers on Agent to the rescue. I grabbed both their holi(cleanse) and acid(wash) cleansers to replace what I was using. The holi(cleanse) is an oil based formula to remove makeup and soothe the skin. The acid(wash) contains lactic acid to gentle exfoliating the skin and serve as a daily face wash. Both are suppose to be good for sensitive skin and will hopefully help! 

I also purchased a bottle of the holi(glow) ageless eye serum. I was debating on this and their new holi(bright) face mask. I ended up going for holi(glow) because it targets a lot of issues around the eye such as dark circles, dryness, wrinkles, etc. Adding the mask to my wish list for next time too!

Have you tried anything from Agent before?

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JUPITER HAIR CARE UNBOXING

Scalp issues are the worst. I've been struggling for the past several years with a dry, itchy scalp and enough is enough! Definitely a little TMI and gross but it is what it is. I've made it my mission to *hopefully* find products that will help knock this sh*t out. After doing a little bit of research in the name of Google, I think I have some version of scalp psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. While I'm no doctor, it looks like the treatment options for both can be similar which is a plus for me! Right now I'm being stubborn and avoiding the dermatologist. Ideally, I would much rather find a solution on my own that isn't super medicated or toxic so we're going the trial + error route first!

One day I came across an ad for the hair care brand Jupiter which has an entire product line made specifically for scalp and dandruff issues. I was immediately intrigued that everything is formulated with clean, safe ingredients and by their simple and sleek packaging. I had never heard of the brand before so I obviously had to order some new things to test out. They carry six different scalp products on their website: a shampoo, conditioner, serum, elixir, mask + scalp brush. You can also find them here on Amazon. I decided to start with the basics so I grabbed the Balancing Shampoo + Nourishing Conditioner and then added in the Restoring Serum for an extra leave-in treatment. 

Balancing Shampoo - 1% Zinc Pyrithione, Coconut Oil + Algae Extract 

Nourishing Conditioner - Probiotics, Vitamin E + Colloidal Oatmeal 

Restoring Serum - 0.125% Zinc Pyrithione, Green Tea + Aloe Vera 

The shampoo and serum both have Zinc Pyrithione, an anti-fungal agent that targets dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. From what I've researched, it's considered safe and effective in doses up to 1% for rinse off hair products and 0.1% for leave on products. I was also excited to see Vitamin E as an active ingredient in the conditioner. I've heard it's a great supplement to take alongside selenium for psoriasis and I've have considered adding it to my supplement routine. I'm always intrigued when vitamins + supplements you would normally take orally or digest through food are also used in products applied topically. 

Like the bottles, the packaging of everything was also very clean + minimal which I love. They included a free travel pouch with my order and a little how-to with helpful tips and info. Also a little FYI-- when I purchased, there was a shipping delay due to the shampoo being out of stock. I think they sell out quickly so keep that in mind when ordering or use Amazon if you want it a little faster. When ordering I also wondered about the scent-- I like it, very subtle but with a minty hint. I'm looking forward to trying and hopefully seeing positive results. Will keep you posted on how things go! 

I love sharing new finds 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? :)