WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING LATELY | MARCH

I haven't done an updated "What I've Been Watching Lately" since January and I've actually been on a little bit of a movie kick. My Tuesday afternoon movie dates have become a part of my routine again during the last month or so. If you have an AMC theatre, Tuesdays are the best days to go. Right now they still have "Discount Tuesdays" where all tickets are $5-6. Let's cross our fingers they keep it around for awhile because there are so many good movies coming out soon! 

One of my favorite parts of the whole experience is getting to watch the commercials, lol. When I was a kid, we would go almost every weekend and I hated the commercials! Now I live for them + seeing what all is coming out. I think it's because I don't watch much TV nowadays and so I feel like I never see trailers for what's coming out. I'll keep you posted on what I go see! Until then, here's what I've been watching lately.

WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING:

+ New Girl - I was looking for a lighthearted + comedic show to watch on Netflix and decided on New Girl. I've heard several people rave about it and I totally get why. It's funny, silly + heartwarming all at the same time. The show follows Zooey Deschanel's character Jess, who is on the hunt for a new apartment after breaking up with her boyfriend. She ends up moving into a loft with a group of guys. The show follows all of their lives collectively and is hilarious. The only downside is now it's leaving Netflix in a little over two weeks which is bad news for me! 

+ 80 for Brady - If you're a fan of Jane Fonda and Book Club, you'll enjoy this one! It follows four best friends who are obsessed with Tom Brady to the 2017 Super Bowl. As a Falcons fan, this one is sort of crossing enemy lines for me... lol. IYKYK. Conflict of interest aside, it was a fun and lighthearted watch. Definitely cheesy but cute! 

+ Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania - Okay... I'll be honest that I enjoyed watching the new Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but I wasn't obsessed. I remember loving the first Ant Man and I may or may not have watched the sequel. I think I went in to this one having higher expectations so while it was good, I wasn't blown away. I think I was expecting more of a comedic element that I remember the first one having? I still enjoyed and if you're a fan of Marvel/superheroes, you'll enjoy watching. 

+ Champions - I always enjoy Woody Harrelson so I was excited for Champions. It was really cute! Harrleson's character is a former minor-league basketball coach who ends up in a bit of trouble. To avoid jail time, he agrees to coach a Special Olympics team at a local rec center. Coaching players with various intellectual disabilities proves to be a challenge and new experience for him. Once they all get into the groove together, it leads to a rewarding experience and journey for all- Harrelson included.

What have you been watching lately? 

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY 2023 | WEEK 2 SALE PICKS

FAB KP Smoothing Body Lotion // MAC Fix+ Spray // MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation // Jaclyn Cosmetics Bronzer // Foreo Bear Mini // NUDESCREEN SPF // Stila Highlighter // Benefit Brow Pencil // Buxom Lippie

Cheers to the freakin' weekend! We're back with another cold front here in TN which means the only answer is to online shop, right?? Right now Ulta is hosting their 21 Days of Beauty Sale event which is a three-week long event full of amazing beauty deals. The sale works with new, one-day-only deals each day of high-end beauty, skincare + fragrance products 50% off of their regular price. It's always a great sale and the perfect time to stock up on favorites or new things to try. Last week, I shared my picks from Week 1 in this post. Here are my top picks for Week 2 which starts on Monday, March 20th. 

PS-- don't forget to stack up the savings and earn cash back too. I always use Rakuten & Ulta is offering 10% cash back this weekend for St. Paddy's day! A little luck of the Irish for ya ;) If you don't have an account, my referral code gives you and I both a $30 bonus when you sign up + make your first purchase of $30 or more. You can shop at pretty much anywhere you can think of! I like to use it when I shop at Target, Sephora, Bloomingdales, Walmart, etc. I'll link my referral here if you're interested in signing up. It's 100% free + not a scam (lol-- I have to say that because sometimes things be sounding scammy). 

+ First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion (Tuesday, March 21st; $14 sale price, regular $28)

+ MAC Fix Plus Prep + Prime Spray (Sunday, March 26th; $15.50 sale price, regular $31)

+ MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (Sunday, March 26th; $19.50 sale price, regular $39)

+ Jaclyn Cosmetics Sun Bathe Pressed Bronzer (Wednesday, March 22nd; $16 sale price, regular $32)

+ Foreo Bear Mini (Wednesday, March 22nd; $109.50 sale price, regular $219)

+ NUDESCREEN Daily Mineral Veil SPF 30 (Monday, March 20th; $18 sale price; regular $36)

+ Stila Heaven's Hue Highlighter (Monday, March 20th; $17 sale price, regular $34) 

+ Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil (Saturday, March 25th; $12.50 sale price, regular $25) 

+ 50% Buxom Bonus (Lip Glosses???)

Are you shopping the sale this year?

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? :)

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | MARCH 2023

1. OURA RING UNBOXING - If you're interested in improving your sleep, I highly recommend an Oura Ring. I've had mine for close to a year now + I love it so much! In my unboxing post, I share the full details on what I ordered, my experience, photos + more. 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing

2. WALKING 10,000+ STEPS A DAY - One of the best habits I think anyone can add into their daily life is walking more + staying active. It's something that's obtainable for most of us + has so many great benefits for your health. I've been walking at least 10,000 steps or more every day for almost two years now. I should probably do an updated post but this one is a great guide on how I got started + some tips that I think are useful for implementing this in your life. 

Read here: Walking 10,000+ Steps a Day

3. 5 MOTIVATIONAL BOOKS I WANT TO READ - I always love reading personal growth/self-help books. There are SO many great options out there. I do think the ones in this particular blog post are some of the more popular/top-rated ones in this space + good ones to pick up! 

Read here: 5 Motivational Books I Want to Read

4. LUXURY MAKEUP HAUL - Who doesn't love a little luxe beauty?? TBH I'm always down to try any new beauty products but I love a little luxury lady. This luxury beauty haul is an oldie from when I first started blogging but has still remained one of the most popular ones ever read on TKD. 

Read here: Luxury Makeup Haul

5. SPRING DENIM OVERALL DRESS - Who doesn't love some spring denim?! I'm always a big fan of denim shorts + also think the overall and dress vibe is still cute. This outfit post is centered around a cute Free People overall dress of mine... it's a a fun spin on the classic overalls + I like the shorter length for when it's warm out! Full outfit deets are linked in the post. 

Read here: Spring Denim Overall Dress

How has your March been going?

PINK FOR SPRING

Sunglasses // Mini Dress // Satin Cami // Pink Striped Button-up // Marc Jacobs Tote Bag // Fuchsia Blazer // Marc Jacobs Snapshot Crossbody // Bouclé Blazer // Sandals 

Pink is always a good idea + I've been loving all of the new pieces that are out for spring and summer. I've always been a neutral gal through and through but when the weather warms up, I love bright pops of color. I love how you can elevate an outfit with a bag, shoe or blazer. Accessories are a great way to incorporate color or something trendy. They always make a statement and can easily enhance the every day basics you already own. I also really love the mix of shades out right now from pastels to bright fuchsia. So fun! 

-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? :)

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY 2023 | WEEK 1 SALE PICKS

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner // Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation // MAC Paint Pot // erborian BB Cream // Iconic London Sculpting Palette // NUDESTIX NUDIES Bronze Stick // ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream // Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist // Anastasia Brow Wiz

It's time for the annual 21 Days of Beauty Sale at Ulta! If you're a beauty lover, it doesn't get much better than this. Every year Ulta does a three week long sale full of beauty products 50% off of the regular price. We're talking the good stuff, too. Most items are high-end brands that rarely go on sale and when they do, it's never 50% off. It's a great time to try new things + stock up on some go-tos. Every year they include a few of the same staples like the MAC Paint Pots, Stila Liners + the best Brow Wiz pencil that are always good basics to have.

The sale starts on Sunday, March 12th and runs until April 1st. Each day has certain products on sale for that day only so you have to strategize + grab them before they sell out. Because there are a ton of products in the sale, I'll break down my top picks for each week in a separate post to keep things more organize. These are my favorites for week 1 starting on Monday!

+ Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner (Wednesday, March 15th; $12 sale price, regular $24)

+ Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation (Sunday, March 19th; $24 sale price, regular $48)

+ MAC Paint Pot (Sunday, March 12th; $12.50 sale price, regular $25)

+ erborian BB Cream (Wednesday, March 15th; $22.50 sale price, regular $45) 

+ Iconic London Sculpting Palette (Thursday, March 16th; $24.50 sale price, regular $49)

+ NUDESTIX NUDIES Bronze Stick (Tuesday, March 14th; $17.50 sale price, regular $35)

+ ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (Monday, March 13th; $46.50 sale price, regular $93)

+ Dermalogica Antioxidant Hydramist (Friday, March 17th; 50% off all Dermalogica) 

+ Anastasia Brow Wiz (Sunday, March 19th; $12.50 sale price, regular $25) 

Are you shopping the sale this year?

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? :)

SKINCARE ROUTINE + UPDATES

It’s been awhile since we've chatted about skincare + I feel like I’m entering into a new life phase. I just turned 29 which is making the 30-is-up-next alarm louder than ever. People always comment that I look much younger for my age which I LOVE and will never complain about, however I've noticed a few fine lines have started popping up on my face over these last few years.

I hate to say this but it’s a mental struggle for me when it comes to embracing aging and wanting to maintain a youthful appearance. The vanity trait in me hates the wrinkles, in particular those pesky 11 and forehead lines. I’ve contemplated starting preventative botox but I also have my reservations on it. Before I jump into that, I’ve decided to first prioritize my skincare and what I can do at home. If all else fails, botox isn't going anywhere!

Reading this article from The Vanilla Plum gave me a little hope! Everyone says nothing compares to cosmetic procedures and that you can’t really reverse aging without them, however she shares some great options that I'm interested in exploring. 

Before I resort to botox, here’s what I’m starting:

+ CONSISTENT SKINCARE ROUTINES 

I struggle with staying consistent on the skincare, ya'll. I'm the problem, it's me. Because I definitely haven't been doing my skincare religiously, I’m challenging myself to start doing that now. We've been going strong for about a week now which I'm calling a win. 

In the morning I keep things simple and just use the holi(trinity) from Agent Nateur which I love. It’s a 3-step process with their holi(water) Toner, holi(c) Vitamin C and holi(oil) Face Oil. Vitamin C has amazing anti-aging benefits so I’m making sure I apply the vitamin C everyday. Sometimes I also add in a moisturizer too if my skin is feeling more dry. 

At nighttime, I always cleanse my skin with Bioderma. It’s great for removing makeup, dirt + refreshing the skin. I love using the Shiseido cotton pads for this. Most nights I let my skin breathe but occasionally I’ll also moisturize with the Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream or holi(oil). 

Whenever I wear makeup, I always double cleanse. The holi(cleanse) from Agent is another great product for removing makeup— it’s an oil based cleanser that really breaks everything down. I also love the Lactic Acid Cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean and it also tightens and brightens the skin. 

+ ADDING IN RETINOL 

I’ve always been a little scared of using retinol but my time has come. I have very sensitive skin and historically it's known to be harsh and drying. The benefits are amazing for anti-aging, though and it helps exfoliate, boost collagen production in the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I've also heard prescription retinol like Tretinoin works the best, however I did a little research and decided to try this one from Skinmedica. They offer several different strengths depending on your experience/skin. I went for one that's more of an “introductory” product that isn’t suppose to irritate the skin.

They recommend starting out using the product twice a week and then building up to every other day.

+ WEARING SPF DAILY 

Sunscreen is another no-brainer area that ya girl has been slacking on. I'm ashamed to admit I've been skipping out on this-- I use to be so adamant about wearing SPF everyday. I definitely need to get back into the habit of it, especially now that I've started the retinol. My favorite product is still the Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Sun Protection tinted sunscreen. It’s a mineral based formula that’s tinted and it blends like a dream. Highly recommend! 

+ MICRONEEDLING

The last new thing I'm adding into my routine is micro-needling. I have a GloPro which is an at-home microneedling device with a red light. I've used a handful of times, however also not enough to really see results. I'm not sure how it compares to profession microneedling, however it has a lot of great benefits to improve skin texture, minimize lines/wrinkles, shrink pores, etc. I've also heard it works well when combined with retinol to help boost collagen production. 

I'll keep you posted with how everything goes! Tell me all of your skincare secrets!! 

-SHOP THE POST-

What are your skincare must-haves?

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? :)

MARCH READING LIST

I finally finished reading my first book of the year, The Chase by Elle Kennedy. Ya'll it's honestly sad at this point. I use to read book after book when I was younger... now I struggle to read a few books each year. I'm still actively working on it and will claw my way back there one day. I tend to start a lot of books that I don't end up finishing... I can't pinpoint if it's a schedule/priority issue, my attention span, lack of interest or all of the above. 

The Chase was a fun + easy romance read that was perfect for February. Cute if you like some romance and the enemies-to-lover vibe. Also on the topic of romance + VDAY, By a Thread by Lucy Score is back on the list. I had to pull it from last month because I naturally didn't reading anything else besides The Chase. It's a recurring theme month-by-month but I still keep making knew TBRs with high hopes. 

First though is Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey for something a little inspiration. We are one chapter down in this bad boy! I absolutely love listening to McConaughey-- he just gets it. He has such an interesting and unique personality and take on life. If you're ever feeling stuck or just needing a little inspiration, search some of his interviews + speeches on YT. Definitely a stand up guy that I respect the hell out of! I actually started Green Lights I think it was last year? Sadly this was one of the ones I just put down and never picked back up. After hearing him speak both about his life and the book, I know I'll love it. 

Last on the list is a new book I shared in this new book releases post called Pineapple Street. Everything about this book screams spring + summer and it just was an immediate add to cart for me. It releases on the 7th + it sounds AND looks cute. Double win because we love some good cover art! Can't wait to have it in my collection. 

MARCH READING LIST:

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

+ Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey 

+ By a Thread by Lucy Score 

+ Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson 

*SHOP ALL IN MY AMAZON STOREFRONT HERE*

What are you reading this month?

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? :)