taliasoniaw, Author at Dresses & Democracy

Categories: Gift Guides, Holidays, Shopping

Gift Guide: Amazon Gifts

Jewelry box // Candle set // Face mask set // Fuzzy socks // Scalloped spa headbands // Pink Dutch oven // Let That Sh*t Go journal // Blue toile pajamas (I have these in pink and love them!) // Gold stemless wine glasses // Shower fizzies // Lip oil (supposedly a great Dior dupe) // Cable knit blanket // Tennis bracelet // Pink and orange lounge set and striped beige lounge set (so cute that I had to include both!) // Confetti earrings // Brown shearling slippers // Wireless charging station // Woven tote bag // Pink and navy shawl (tons of color options available)

Categories: Gift Guides, Shopping

Gift Guide: Things I own and love

Pearl halo headband // Laneige lip mask (I love the “Sweet Candy” flavor) // Gold and diamond ring // Gold and pearl ring (this and the ring above it stack really well together) // Floral bathrobe // Pearl hoop earrings // Navy Nap Dress // Blackwatch plaid headband // Gold open-frame earrings // Glamorous Wash detergent // T3 curling iron set // Travel jewelry case // Book of the Month subscription // Printed nightgown // Pink belt bag (great Lululemon dupe) // Striped pajama set // Cashmere sweater // Capri Blue candle // Caudalie hand creme // Packing cubes

Categories: Gift Guides, Shopping

Gift Guide: Things I’d like to receive

Dior makeup set // Glitter platform Converse // Light blue brocade minidress // Red and pink floral silk scarf // Tan lounge set // Gold beaded huggie hoops // Black and white shift dress // Shower fizzies // Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk set // Black patent Mary Janes // Pink patterned pajama set // Crystal necklace // Floral apron and matching oven mitts // Five minute journal // Pearl and gold coin toggle necklace // Pink tote bag // Tan shirt jacket // Black and pearl heels // Light blue quarter-zip // Beige bow flats

Categories: Uncategorized

How the heck do you make friends?

It’s been a second since I’ve written a blog post (over a month, whoops). I haven’t really known what to write about in that time, but this topic has been on my mind for a bit lately, and what better way to get my feelings out than write about them?

I’ve been struggling a bit with what I want this blog to be. And I’ve finally settled on an answer: Whatever the heck I want it to be. If that’s a place for me to share fashion finds or outfit ideas or my political views or my favorite products, then that’s what I want to do. If I want it to be an online diary (which is what today’s post is), then I’m gonna use it as such.

So today I want to talk about how hard it is for me (and I’m sure plenty of others) to make friends.

Honestly, it’s something I’ve struggled with my entire life, and it’s part of why I spend so much time online. Going back to all the way to elementary school, even, it’s been pretty hard for me. Growing up, I never really had birthday parties with people who weren’t family members or had friends over at my house. I have vivid memories of how every time I went through a big transition in school — from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and high school to college — at the end of each school year, for different reasons I’d start that summer without a friend group.

Honestly, I could blame this on petty school drama, but when it’s something that’s happened to me repeatedly, it’s hard for me not to wonder if I’m part of the problem. I know full well that I have a strong personality. I am loud and opinionated, and I can’t even count how many times I’ve been called “annoying.”

Things got a bit better for me in college when I joined a sorority and had most of my friends in close proximity. But even then, I never really felt like I had it together friendship-wise. I never got a sign night for my 21st birthday (which embarrassingly, I do still think about and still hurts me).

Now though? My closest friends from school are all spread out, and I’m in a different city than a lot of people I know. And as summer approaches, I see a lot of people going out or planning trips with a group of friends. I don’t have that, at least not here. But I really want to.

I want a group chat of girlies that I can go to when I want advice. I want to plan those fun theme parties that I see on TikTok where everyone dresses up like a Taylor Swift era or a character from a Shonda Rhimes show (or any other theme). I want to go out with the girls on Saturday nights. I want to have people to invite to a party when it’s my birthday later this summer.

My only problem is: I don’t know how the heck to find a group of friends that has that sense of camaraderie and closeness, because I’ve never really done it before.

I’m in this weird position where there are people I know that I want to be friends with, but I don’t really know how to get myself in that position. There are bloggers in the area I’ve met from Instagram or people I kind of know from school that I think I’d be great friends with! I just don’t know how to reach out and say “Hi, I think you’re cool and want to hang out!” because I’ve never been a person who does that before. If I have the urge to do that, I convince myself that I’m being annoying and weird and intrusive. Even if I have done that (which I did make plans with a few people last summer), I feel like I’m being annoying if I pester them to hang out again. After all, they would ask me if they wanted to hang out again, right?

Anyway, all of this is kind of just to say-slash-ask a few things:

If you want to be friends and hang out, just ask me because in all likelihood, I’ll probably say yes. I need more friends to hang out with and I want a girl group specifically!
If we’re already friends and I haven’t talked to you in a while, it’s because I’ve convinced myself that I’m annoying and need a reason to talk to you or else I’ll bug you.
How do you make friends as an adult without things like classes or sororities? How do you get other people to hang out with you and plan things? How do you plan things and not feel like you’re annoying people when you ask them?
Do you have advice for making friends, especially as an adult? Please share with me. I’d be so so so grateful ❤️

Follow along!
Subscribe to my Emails | Instagram | LIKEtoKNOW.it | Pinterest | TikTok

Categories: Lifestyle, Money, Personal, Shopping

Let’s Talk About Money!

The other day, I opened up on my Instagram stories about my relationship and struggles with money, ending by asking for advice and recommendations to get better. I received over 50 DMs and recommendations (which might have been my most ever), as well as just a ton of support and messages about people in similar situations to mine. People asked me a few times to share the advice I received, and a couple suggested a blog post, so here we are!

About My Relationship with Money

How I Was Raised with Money

My relationship with money is complicated, to say the least. I was raised by a single mom who worked retail for basically most of my life up until the pandemic closed the store she worked at. If you’ve ever worked retail, then you know it’s not exactly a lucrative field, especially if you aren’t in management (which my mother was not). Because of this, I grew up without a lot of money. We never had to go without food or clothing, but we did have to shop at thrift stores (way before it became a trendy thing) and grocery shop at the cheaper stores.

I was really aware of money from a young age. We very rarely went to restaurants, and if we did, we weren’t allowed to order any drink other than water and had to eat off the kids menu. There were times I couldn’t go to the grocery store with my mom because she didn’t want to have to tell me “No” when I asked for snacks and extra food we couldn’t afford. I watched my mom struggle to pay medical bills and credit card debt. She had no savings or retirement money set aside, and for a long chunk of my life (including right now), no medical insurance either.

All of this is to say that I didn’t grow up with good money habits modeled for me at home.

My Current Money Situation

When I got my first full-time job out of college, I was 1. Making basically the same amount that my mom did at her highest point and 2. Really unaware of how to manage that money. In the spirit of honesty, I’ll go ahead and give salary details because I fully believe in transparency (and I’d be happy to discuss this further via DMs if you’re interested!), but I made $42K per year at my old job.

I was spending a large portion of this on rent. I lived alone in an expensive city because I moved during fall of 2020 and just did not want to deal with roommates potentially bringing home COVID. Because of that, I spent way too much on rent (pretty much half my paychecks), then the rest went to whatever I wanted. I had no budget and basically bought anything because I figured, “I have a stable job, so I’m fine!”

Reader, I was not fine! I didn’t save and still racked up credit card debt.

Then, when I started my current job, that came with a nice salary bump. Now I make $60K per year, which I’m extremely grateful for. I love my job so much, and the fact that I’m paid a good salary is a privilege I’m so happy to have. I’m no longer spending half my paycheck on rent! I have extra money!

So when I got this new job, I thought, “Hey, I made it work before on a lot smaller salary. Now, I’m making more so I can spend more!” I was also spending less on rent because I live with another person now. However, I still wasn’t saving or investing. I’ve been at this job for almost six months now, and I still find myself in the same position I was in at my old one: desperately waiting for payday and struggling to make ends meet.

Where I Am Now

I make enough money from my job to cover my needs, as well as savings and some wants! However, I’m having a lot of trouble doing that at the moment. I was never taught how to spend and save responsibly. I’d like to pay off the credit card debt that I have. I want to stop impulse shopping. When my next pay period comes around, I want to be in a place where I still have a decent amount of money in the bank. I’d like to quit acting like being a shopaholic with credit card debt is some cute and quirky little personality trait because it’s not. Luckily, I’ve gotten some great advice on how to do these things that I’ll share below!

But before I do that, I want to touch on something first regarding influencers. I am a nanoinfluencer, which is even smaller than a microinfluencer. My following isn’t super big, so I don’t do a lot of brand deals. I also don’t really get paid for what I post. This is okay with me! I’m doing this as a hobby, with no desire to turn it into a full-time job. All of my income comes from my full-time job. I get gifted items from time to time, but I’ve never done a paid sponsorship. I’m well aware that I probably could, but I don’t want this to feel like real work so I won’t.

Now, a lot of influencers, especially those with larger followings, are not the same way. It may seem like they’re sharing new things every single day because many of them are. I have to remind myself that in many of these cases, at least one of these things is probably true: 1. This person probably got sent that item for free, or they may even be getting paid to promote it, 2. They may come from generational wealth and could have family money or a trust fund to back them up (nothing wrong or disingenuous about this, but it’s just not my situation!), or 3. They could be racking up debt behind the scenes to afford the lifestyle they’re posting about (it really happens).

Those are all things I like to tell myself when I feel FOMO from seeing hauls or new items on Instagram or TikTok, and I hope they’re helpful to you too! A bit of perspective really goes a long way.

Money Advice & Resources

When I put out a call for money advice, y’all came through with the recommendations. I couldn’t keep track of where everything came from, especially resources that were mentioned by multiple people. However, if there’s a specific piece of advice that you gave me and want credited to you (especially in the General Advice section), please let me know and I’d be happy to give credit where credit is due.

Books to Read

Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping by and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry
Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties by Beth Kobliner
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Spent: Break the Buying Obsession and Discover Your True Worth by Sally Palaian

People to Follow

Instagram

TikTok

Blogs and Websites

YouTube

Podcasts

The Financial Confessions
Financial Feminist
Girls That Invest
She’s On The Money

Other Resources

The #DebtFreeCommunity hashtag (this is great to follow to find other people and stay focused)
Talk About Money Facebook group
Banks that hold financial literacy classes (apparently lots of them do this)
Ibotta app
Mint app

General tips and advice

Set a budget and stick to it. Make note of where your money is going by logging your purchases in a spreadsheet.
Your goals need to be concrete and specific. Instead of just wanting to save more, say “I want to save $X by the end of the year.”
When you get your paychecks, pay yourself first with savings and investing. Automating this really helps!
Don’t cut yourself off cold turkey. Instead, give yourself a set amount of spending money for the month.
You can have anything you want but not everything. (This was one of my personal favorite pieces of advice that really put things into perspective for me!)
Unlink your cards from Apple Pay and PayPal.
Do a no spend challenge for a month, a few weeks, etc.
You don’t have to cut out all excess spending. You can choose to budget and spend money on things that truly make you happy, not just spend money on anything you want. Be intentional about what you purchase instead of buying just because.
Give yourself fair budgets for things like clothes and travel (stuff you like) so you feel justified in spending on them instead of guilty.
Create a wishlist and organize it by season. Don’t purchase anything that’s out of season.
It can be easier for some people to work backwards with saving so instead of a budget, try an aggressive savings goal and you can spend whatever is leftover after you’ve contributed to that.
Put anything you want on a list and think about it for at least a week until you can actually buy it.

Specific Changes I’m Going to Make

Again, a big thank you to anyone who gave me the advice I shared above. Anytime I’ve done this research in the past, I quickly became overwhelmed by what’s out there, so I’m extremely grateful to learn what’s worked for real people. Here are some of the things I’m going to adopt in my life based on what I’ve learned so far:

Actually setting a budget for myself once I get my next paycheck: In the past, I’d basically get paid, pay my rent and other bills, then spend whatever was leftover. I’ve heard a lot about the 50-30-20 rule where you spend 50% of your income on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. This seems like a good place for me to start, although I might switch it to 30% savings and 20% wants.
Stop using my credit cards until they’re paid off: Self-explanatory. I want to stop accruing interest on them, pay them off in full, and then learn to use them to my advantage (hello, cash back and points).
No more payment plans: I’ve been really bad about using the Afterpay or Affirm or other split payment options when shopping online. If I don’t have enough money to pay for something now, I’m going to start saving for it instead of just delaying the money coming out now.
Take inventory of my clothes, get rid of stuff I don’t wear, and adopt a “one in, one out” rule: Clothes are probably the number one thing I spend my money on. My closet is overflowing, and sometimes I even get embarrassed by how many clothing items I have. I’m going to stop holding onto things I’ve never worn (or worn just one time). I’m already in the process of doing a huge closet clean-out on Poshmark. I’ve also decided that if I’m going to buy new items, I have to get rid of something first because I truly feel that I have enough clothes.

If you’ve read this far, I’m really impressed and want to say thanks! I hope these tips can help some of y’all out as well because we all deserve to have enough money to live on (and this is a nice reminder that we really should increase the minimum wage). Also, one last thing before I sign off: I am extremely thrilled with how many women-founded and women-run resources are on this list! Money is NOT just for men!

Follow along!
Subscribe to my Emails | Instagram | LIKEtoKNOW.it | Pinterest | TikTok

Categories: Fashion & Style, Shopping

An Updated Hill House Home & Nap Dress Review and Guide (with try-ons and a discount code!)

Disclaimer: Items linked in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase, I might make a small commission. This comes at no additional cost to you, and the money I make helps me keep this blog up and running!

Last summer, after buying my first Nap Dress, I wrote a blog post reviewing it. I think it’s actually my most-read blog post ever. Since then, my Nap Dress collection has grown quite a bit. I wear a Nap Dress at least once a week (usually more). I own… quite a few of them.

Why I Love The Nap Dress

It’s clear that I love Nap Dresses. I’m not sponsored by Hill House (a girl can dream though), but I promote these dresses like I am. Why? Well, here are a few reasons I love them:

They’re super comfy. I can wear one all day long without getting uncomfortable. I actually have taken a nap in one before. The smocking and flowy silhouettes provide the ultimate balance of both style and comfort.
The quality is great. I love the fabrics and feel of all the Nap Dresses I own. I’ve only had an issue with an item once (which I’ll get too next), and nothing else since. And I wear these items often. Also, for the most part, they’re machine washable and easy to care for!
Their customer service rocks. Like I said above, I’ve only had an issue with an item once. A top I bought from them had a seam at the sleeve coming apart. I emailed customer service about it, and they quickly apologized, sent me a replacement, and provided me with a shipping label to return the defective one. They’re also extremely responsive on Instagram, both in DMs and in the comments on their posts.
They’re versatile. I’ve worn my Nap Dresses to work. I graduated college in a Nap Dress. I celebrated getting my job in a Nap Dress. I’ve worn them to weddings, in the winter and the summer. They’re easy to make casual or dressy. Do I need to go on?
It’s a woman-founded and -owned company. I love supporting women and female entrepreneurship!!! Hill House’s founder, Nell Diamond, is so freaking cool. She’s a working mom of precious children. She’s unapologetic about how girly, frilly style does not mean you shouldn’t be taken seriously in a professional environment (something I definitely appreciate). Also, she votes Dem (evidence here, here, and here), so obviously I support that. She’s been super kind when I’ve interacted with her through DMs, so I’m kind of obsessed with her and kinda want to be her when I grow up.
There’s such a kind community of fellow Nap Dress wearers. I’ve been blown away by how amazing Nap Dress Nation is. I’m in a few Facebook groups for it, and I’ve actually made some friends through it!
They. Added. Pockets. For a while, this was a lot of people’s main complaint. In Hill House’s most recent drop, they gave the people what they wanted. Their dresses now have pockets, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it!

Need I go on? I probably could forever. But in the interest of time, I’ll spare you the details. Let’s get into the review.

Discount Code

If you’re already convinced, I’ll go ahead and throw in my promo link. I am not being paid to promote this; anyone can do it. If you use this link to make your first Hill House Home purchase, you’ll get 20% off! I’ll also get a coupon for $20 off a purchase of mine. It’s a win-win for both of us!

Sizing

As I’m sure many of y’all can relate, women’s sizing tends to be pretty inconsistent. Typically, I’m either a small or medium and I can range from a size 2 to a size 6 depending on the brand and garment. However, I’m usually a size 2/4 and more often a small than a medium. I have a relatively small chest and I’m more bottom-heavy. My bra size is 32A, and I usually wear a 28 in jeans. As for height, I’m about 5’5″, although I do love wearing heels!

I take an XS in most of my Hill House dresses. I’ll be posting try-on photos and sizing below of all my items, though, and please don’t hesitate to ask me questions! I’ve found that in general, Hill House tends to run larger and most people can get away with sizing down. The smocking and flowy, tiered silhouettes of a lot of their garments make it so the sizing is pretty forgiving.

Dress Types and Try Ons

The Ellie

The Ellie is the classic Nap Dress style. I recommend this as everyone’s first style. I wear an XS in this one, and it’s the style I have the most of. An XS is one size down from what I usually wear, and I do recommend going a size down in the Ellie for most people trying the Nap Dress for the first time, unless you have a larger bust, in which case I’ve heard some people take their normal size to compensate for that.

The Nesli

I would describe the Nesli as an Ellie, but with puff sleeves. To me, they’re super similar dresses, with the sleeves being the main difference. I wear the same size in this as I do with the Ellie, an XS. This may be one of my favorite silhouettes that Hill House makes. I think it’s super flattering, and it’s just a fun, comfy style.

The Athena

I find the Athena to be almost like a shorter Nesli, but with smaller sleeves. I wear my same Nesli and Ellie size in this one, an XS. It’s the perfect summertime dress since it’s short and light, but it’s easy to transition to colder weather with some tights.

The Ophelia

The Ophelia is a newer silhouette, and it’s one of my favs. The lower neckline is flirtier, but the puff sleeves and full skirt still feel feminine and girly to me. Hill House changed their sizing for this drop, but I panicked and got my usual Ellie size, XS. I probably could have done my usual small, and if I get another I likely will size up. However, the smocked back makes the Ophelia pretty forgiving, and I didn’t want to deal with an exchange, so I’m fine with the size I have.

The Ava

The Ava is yet another dress from the last drop with the sizing change. I got an XS in this one as well, and I think it’s perfect. I could maybe do a small because it’s tighter in the torso, but because my chest is smaller, I would probably be concerned about the chest being too big. The ruffle sleeves can be worn on or off the shoulder, and this style comes with a removable sash. Personally, I like it tied in a bow at the front!

The Caroline

I don’t have a photo in this one because it happened to be in the laundry machine while I was writing this. (Sorry!) I have one Caroline that I mainly wear as a nightgown, but I do still love it. It’s super comfy to sleep and lounge in. I wear an XS in this style and it’s perfect, even with the smocking around the neck. I like my pajamas to be loose and comfy, but even with sizing down from my usual, an XS is the best size for me. If you’ve shopped Hill House before, I recommend going with your Ellie size in this. It’s the ideal Victorian ghost type of nightgown, if that’s your vibe (and it totally is mine).

Nap Dress FAQs

What’s your favorite silhouette?

Probably the Ellie or Ophelia! I love the Ellie for it versatility since you can wear it to so many different occasions, but the Ophelia is super flattering and makes me feel like a princess.

What style do you recommend to new customers?

Hands down, get an Ellie. I truly believe they’re universally flattering and the styling possibilities are endless. I’ve never seen an Ellie on someone and thought “Oh, that dress just doesn’t look good on them.” If you don’t believe me, go to the tagged photos on Hill House’s Instagram! Everyone needs an Ellie.

Do they run TTS?

Like I said above, I find that Hill House tends to run large. Unless you have a large chest, I’d recommend sizing down from your usual size. If you have any questions, their website also has a size guide with each item and they’re super responsive via DM on Instagram!

Does Hill House only make dresses?

No! They make home items such as bedding and bath linens (hence the name Hill House Home), and they’ve been expanding into other clothing items beyond dresses. There have also been rumors about potentially making shoes too! Some of the other items of theirs I have are…

The Quilt Coat, which I own in 2 colors because I love it that much.
The Kit Top, aka the perfect white blouse.
The Bea Jacket and the Olivia Skirt, which are my ultimate fun power suit.

What’s next on your list?

I’m hoping to snag an Elizabeth in the next drop! It’s like a short version of the Ellie, so I think it’ll be perfect for summer.

Any other question that wasn’t addressed here…

DM me on Instagram! I’m always down to chat Nap Dresses.

Follow along!
Subscribe to my Emails | Instagram | LIKEtoKNOW.it | Pinterest | TikTok

Categories: Books, Recent Reads

Recent Reads Vol. 1

In 2021, I got really into reading. Ever since 2022 started, though, I’ve been reading even more. My goal this year is to read 50 books! I love reading these types of blog posts from other people because it’s a great way to discover new books, and I want to start doing them periodically. Maybe every other month?

Anyway, you can follow me on Goodreads to see what I’m currently reading. I don’t post full reviews on there, just the star ratings. These blog posts, though, will have all of the books I’ve read since the last post, complete with a short (spoiler-free, of course) plot summary and my own rating. I’m always looking for book recommendations so please send any my way!

Thus far, I’ve read 16 books. Reviews and summaries below!

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis: Lowen Ashleigh is a writer who gets hired by an author’s husband to finish writing his wife’s book series after an injury incapacitates her. While looking through the author’s notes and papers in her office, Lowen uncovers the woman’s autobiography, which is full of secrets she never intended anyone else to read.

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Colleen Hoover is an author with a ton of hype surrounding her work. I read her book It Ends With Us last year and just did not understand the love for it (I gave it two stars). After that, I almost swore off her other books altogether, but I’m so glad that I gave Verity a chance because it was incredible. I devoured this book and had trouble putting it down. If you’re into thrillers, I highly recommend Verity.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

I’ve also read a few of the subsequent books in this series (Flawless, Perfect, Unbelievable, Wicked, Killer, and Heartless). However, they all kind of blend together in my mind so I’m including them as one entry.

Synopsis: Honestly, who doesn’t know the premise of this series after the wildly popular TV show adaptation? In case you don’t though, this series follow four girls who used to share a best friend, Ali, until one day she went missing. In the years since, the girls have drifted apart. One day, however, they all start receiving cryptic messages alluding to secrets only their missing best friend could know, all signed by the mysterious A. Ali’s body is ultimately found, but the notes don’t stop and Ali’s murder investigation starts to bring up more questions than answers.

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

I’ve started doing this thing every year where I reread a book series from my childhood. Last year, it was Percy Jackson, and it was Harry Potter the year before. I never actually finished PLL, just read the first couple books, so this felt like an intriguing pick for this year. They’re by no means the greatest books I’ve ever read, but they’ve been fun to read! They’re pretty short (like 200-2550 pages) and intended for a YA audience, so you can get through them pretty quickly. I will say that after seven books, they’re starting to get a little ridiculous and unrealistic, but they’re still entertaining.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Synopsis: This is a self-help book focused on building good habits and breaking bad ones, with an emphasis on making small, incremental changes over massive changes all at once.

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I’ve never actually read a self-help book before, so this was a new genre for me. Though I haven’t implemented all the processes this book talked about, I felt that it gave me a lot of good tools on how to form better habits in my life. The methods that the author describes seem so small that they’d be manageable to anyone. It was also a pretty short read, so I’d say it’s a great starter book in the self-help category.

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

Synopsis: This book goes between two timelines. The first takes place in 1919, following Lillian Carter, an artists’ model who is wanted for a crime she didn’t commit. She takes a job as the private secretary of Helen Frick, a fickle and cantankerous yet intelligent heiress. Fifty years later, the second timeline follows Veronica Weber, a model, as she works to solve a mystery in the Frick family’s mansion, along with an aspiring art curator who works there.

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

This was my first foray into historical fiction! I enjoyed this one with its stories of the rich and glamorous in different parts of the 1900s. I did find it a bit slow in the beginning, but once it started to pick up, I loved following along with the story, especially as the two timelines started to merge together.

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Synopsis: Solène Marchand is a thirty-nine year old divorcee, art gallery owner, and mother to twelve-year-old Isabelle. When she takes her daughter and some friends to see their favorite boyband, August Moon, the last thing she expects is to start a relationship with one of the band’s members, Hayes Campbell. Their relationship is complicated by his fame and public image, plus the fact that he’s only twenty years old.

My Rating: 5/5 stars

This is one of my favorite books that I’ve ever read. In the weeks after reading it, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It’s so much beyond just a romance novel, covering topics in motherhood, femininity, aging, and passion. But even though it’s more than just romance, I have also never felt so invested in a book relationship before. Even in just writing this review, I’m starting to feel choked up and emotional. This is one of my all-time favs, so of course I recommend it, but be warned that it will stick with you.

Too Late by C. Hoover

Synopsis: Sloan is college student in a relationship with the abusive Asa, a dangerous drug dealer she feels she can’t leave because she has nowhere else to turn to. She doesn’t agree with Asa’s lifestyle, but he provides for her and her disabled brother financially so she’s sticking it out. Until, however, she becomes entangled with Carter, one of Asa’s new associates who turns out to be lying about who he truly is.

My Rating: 2/5 stars

After reading Verity, I thought that another thriller pick by Colleen Hoover would be something I’d enjoy. This one contains a warning of being more graphic and disturbing than her other books (hence why it’s published under C. Hoover instead of Colleen), but I’ve read some thriller and horror titles before so I wasn’t too worried. This fell short. First, I couldn’t stand the characters of this book. Sloan is a doormat, Asa is a horrible person, and, quite frankly, I thought Carter was an idiot. Also, I didn’t find the book to be that intense and disturbing. Honestly, parts of Verity shocked me more than this book did, and that one had no warning in the beginning differentiating it from Hoover’s other books. I understand that this one was intended to be a creative project for Hoover that wasn’t going to be published, and the plot holes in it made it pretty obvious that was the case. To me, this just seemed like a darker, more “illegal” version of It Ends With Us, which I also did not enjoy.

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Synopsis: Blythe Connor grew up with a distant, neglectful mother. Now that she has a daughter of her own, she’s determined to be warm and loving to her own little girl, Violet. Except something about Violet seems off to Blythe, yet no one else in their lives agrees with Blythe. Once Blythe has her son, Sam, though, she begins to experience the love and connection she lacks in her relationship with Violet. Until a tragic accident changes absolutely everything — and it may not even be an accident after all.

My Rating: 5/5 stars

A psychological thriller about motherhood doesn’t sound like it would work, but wow was this book incredible! The first half didn’t really seem like it was going anywhere, mainly just a lot of thoughts in Blythe’s head about what was going on. However, something major (the accident I referred to in the synopsis) occurs about halfway through the book, and things get crazy. If it seems like this book isn’t picking up for you, stick it out because everything changes once that happens. And trust me, you’ll know when that event happens. I literally gasped out loud when it did, and then couldn’t put it down until the end. This was the thriller I was craving after I finished Verity.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Synopsis: Olive Smith is a Ph.D. student in biology who finds herself getting into a fake-dating relationship with Adam Carlsen, a young professor known in their department for being extremely intelligent but also an extreme jerk. Olive intends to only fake date him for a month to get one of her friend Anh off her back, but then she starts to fall for Adam.

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

It’s cheesy and maybe a little predictable, but I loved it nonetheless. I love a good fake dating trope, just like I love a good “one person is moody and angry but soft around the other person.” This book has both of those! And the characters were very lovable on top of that (I’d totally read a whole spinoff about Olive’s roommate Malcolm). I will say that the book has one sex scene, but it was really well-written and even amidst all the rom-com tropes, the scene felt super realistic and enjoyable to read for me. I loved Ali Hazelwood’s writing style; she reminds me of Casey McQuiston, another one of my favs. If you’re looking for a light but heartfelt rom-com, this book is for you.

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

Synopsis: Quinn and Minnie were both born on New Year’s Eve of 1990 in the same hospital. Thirty years later, the two meet on their birthday again. Minnie is now a baker desperately trying to stop her business from failing and salvaging her relationship with her co-business-owner and best friend, while Quinn is a successful management consultant who comes from a seemingly great home. Even though the pair comes from totally different worlds, fate keeps bringing them together. And as Minnie starts to learn that Quinn’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems to her, they both learn about solving their problems from one another.

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

This book was billed as a rom-com, but I found the romance to be more secondary to the main plot, which was really about Minnie figuring herself out. I enjoyed that aspect of it, don’t get me wrong, but I just wish there had been more of Minnie and Quinn’s relationship in addition to that. I think maybe if the book description was a finding yourself story instead of a romance, I might have liked it more. But because my expectation was a romance, I found that it was lacking. Additionally, it has a New Years theme, but I read it after New Years and felt that the holiday allusions weren’t so overpowering that it felt weird to read the book in the “wrong” time of year.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Synopsis: Normal People follows Connell and Marianne in their on-again, off-again relationship-slash-friendship from high school through college. The pair grapples with mental health, social status, money, family, sex, academics, and all the other things that young adults worry about.

My Rating: 3/5 stars

I feel like people either loved or hated this book. I guess I’m an outlier because at the end, I’m pretty neutral on it. This book was just…fine. There wasn’t much of a plot, and the ending just didn’t feel like an ending to me. I like things to be wrapped up and completed, but this book didn’t deliver. I will say, Sally Rooney has a very unique writing style that I did enjoy, so I do understand the praise she gets. She’s described as having “brilliant psychological acuity,” and I cannot think of a better phrase to explain how she writes. I’ll probably read some of her other books to see if I feel the same way, but I definitely enjoy the way she writes, even if the plot isn’t my favorite.

Follow along!
Subscribe to my Emails | Instagram | LIKEtoKNOW.it | Pinterest | TikTok

Categories: Lifestyle, Shopping

My Amazon Favorites

I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not I should do a post like this. I get requests for my Amazon favorites occasionally (I think every content creator does), but I’ve had some trouble actually compiling the list. I know Amazon isn’t the best company in the world (workers should be treated with basic decency, money-hungry execs shouldn’t value profits over people, and union-busting is bad, just putting that out there), but these days, it’s as ubiquitous as Target or Walmart. Possibly even more so.

However, Amazon is convenient. Especially for someone like me who doesn’t have a car. I do order from Amazon from time to time, even if it isn’t the greatest company out there. One way I feel better about my purchases is when I select Amazon day delivery instead of the standard two day shipping, especially if I don’t need it right away. If I place multiple orders in one week, they’ll ship at once altogether instead of each item taking up just one box. It’s a little better for the environment, and every bit helps.

That being said, I want to touch on one more thing before getting into the main part of this post: A lot of these blog posts or YouTube videos can promote overconsumption. You do not need every item in this post. You probably don’t actually need any of them. I’ve largely stopped purchasing clothing from Amazon because I found that I’d only wear something once then never again. Before buying something, ask yourself if you’re purchasing it out of convenience or if you really truly want it? Or is it just cheap? Or available to get to you in two days?

My Amazon Favorites

Everything below is something I’ve purchased from Amazon and use frequently. There are quite a few items on the list, so I won’t go into details on everything. However, a few highlights worth noting:

These produce containers are kind of life-changing (and they help fruits and veggies last longer!).
I’ve been using these rollers a lot lately for styling my bangs.
My Instagram would be nothing without my trusty phone tripod!
I swear, every time I post in this sports bra, someone asks for a link to it.
The best no show socks, hands down.
My clothing rack, which I get asked about allllllll the time.
These pajamas are super comfy and the print is precious!

Follow along!
Subscribe to my Emails | Instagram | LIKEtoKNOW.it | Pinterest | TikTok

Categories: Beauty, Fashion & Style, Lifestyle, Shopping

Recent Purchases Vol. 2

It’s no secret that I love to shop. Sometimes, though, this isn’t the best for my wallet. However, lately I’ve been trying to be more intentional about what I buy. This means purchasing things that I truly love, rather than just buying something I only like because it’s a good price.

For clothes, this means I want to cut down on my fast fashion purchases and move more towards higher-quality, investment pieces. I’ve really been finding my personal style this year, and I’ve found that it’s not exactly something I can get for cheap at Target or Forever 21. My tastes lean more towards unique items found in curated collections, boutiques, or smaller brands.

Below, you’ll find some things I’ve bought over the last few weeks. There are a few fashion items on this list, but it’s mainly other items like books or beauty items too! I’ve done a roundup like this previously, so here’s round two of it. I hope to make this a regular series that I post from time to time.

A Few Notes

On the books…

Target was doing a buy 2 get 1 free sale on books. Normally, I actually read ebooks on my iPad but I’ve been wanting to have more physical copies of books. These are all titles I’ve wanted to read for a while or that have come highly recommended to me, so I felt that buying them was a safe choice. I’m especially excited about Business Minded by Carly Riordan, which I hope will give me some insight on treating this blog like a business! Carly is a blogger I’ve been following for years, so I’m very excited to read more of her long-form writing in her first book. And also, Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams has been on my list forever. Stacey Abrams is one of the most incredible political figures of our time, and I can’t wait to read her words on how we can build civic engagement and become a better country.

On the skincare items…

Both items from the Inkey List (the cleansing balm and retinol) are repurchases. The Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand comes recommended by my friend Melissa (@melissa_albano on Instagram). She posted that it’s helped her acne scars immensely, so I immediately placed an order for it. Truth be told, one of my biggest insecurities is acne scarring. Hoping that this works to reduce them for me!

On the dresses…

Remember how I mentioned that I was finding my style? Well, it’s filled with classic pieces, flowy dresses, grandmillennial florals, and beautiful colors. I absolutely adore each dress in this roundup. They feel like they’re just perfectly me!

Follow along!
Subscribe to my Emails | Instagram | LIKEtoKNOW.it | Pinterest | TikTok

Categories: Beauty

My Everyday Skincare Routine

I am by no means a skincare expert. All of the products in my routine have basically been found through a combination of recommendations and trial and error. It’s taken me a while, but I finally have a routine that works for me! This has been a highly requested topic, and I’m happy to dive into it.

For some background, my skin is far from perfect. It’s on the dry side. Acne and acne scarring are my biggest concerns. I do take birth control pills, which helped my acne a lot though. (If anyone is interested, I’m on Layolis Fe, the generic version of Generess Fe.) I’ll try to explain what I use everything for, but I’m definitely not a skincare expert. I’ve learned basically everything from a lot of Google searches and recs on Instagram or TikTok.

Evening

Remove makeup. I use reusable, washable makeup cloths (these are awesome) instead of the disposable makeup remover wipes.
Cleanse. First, I start with the Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm. I use this to remove whatever makeup the wipes don’t get. Then I use Sephora’s Clean Skin Gel Cleanser and this facial brush to wash my face.
Apply serums and treatments. I use a few…
- The Ordinary’s Niacinimide Serum: This is supposed to be good for keeping acne under control.
- The Inkey List’s Retinol Serum: This helps with anti-aging and skin renewal.
- Bio-Oil Skincare Oil: This came as a recommendation for getting rid of acne scarring. I’m honestly not sure if it works or not (I probably should’ve taken some “before” photos) but it hasn’t hurt my skin, so I keep using it.
Moisturize. First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream is my holy grail. If you have dry skin, there’s nothing better. I use it on my face mainly, but it’s also great for dry hands in the winter or any dry patches on your skin.

Morning

Cleanse. Again, I use Sephora’s Clean Skin Gel Cleanser and the same facial brush I use in the evening.
Apply treatments. In the morning, I use Sunday Riley’s CEO Glow Vitamin C oil and I love it. I know the price is ridiculous. It practically pains me when I pay that much for it. However, a little goes a long way, so one bottle of this lasts for a while. Vitamin C is supposed to be good for getting rid of acne scarring and making your skin glow.
Moisturize. The Innisfree Dewy Glow Moisturizer is my morning moisturizer. It’s hydrating and gives my skin a nice, glowy finish. Plus as far as moisturizers go, it’s on the more affordable end (only $25!).
Eye balm. After my moisturizer has set in, I apply Tula’s Rose Glow & Get It Eye Balm on my undereyes. I know a bunch of influencers have partnerships with Tula to promote it, but I’m not one of them! I genuinely bought this product on my own to try and use, and I’ve since repurchased it when I ran out.
SPF. This! Is! The! Most! Important! Thing!!!! Seriously! I may not know much about skincare, but I do know two things are extremely important to having and maintaining good skin: 1. Always take your makeup off before bed and 2. Wear sunscreen every single day, regardless of the weather or if you’re going outside. Sun damage is a real thing, so you should always wear SPF. I like Supergoop’s Glowscreen because it makes my skin look nice even without makeup, but I’ve heard great things about their Unseen Sunscreen for those who have oily skin too.

Other

Mask. Once a week on Sundays, I use an exfoliating mask on my skin. The Ordinary’s AHA + BHA Exfoliating Peeling Solution is a cult favorite (and the one I use), but be warned that it is intense. It can tingle sometimes or even burn a bit. The directions say to use twice a week, but I’ve found that once is good enough for me.
Reusable cloth pads. I use these reusable pads instead of cotton rounds for applying serums and stuff in the evening. I like that I can just throw them in the wash instead of constantly repurchasing cotton pads!
Acne stickers. When I have a pimple pop up, I like to sleep with an acne sticker on it as a spot treatment. For me, they help get rid of zits faster and make it so they aren’t as prominent and red.
Lip mask. If you have dry lips ever, you need the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. It’s so good. I have to sleep with a bite guard in, so I tend to breathe through my mouth when I sleep. Once, my lips got so dry from it that I woke up with a split lip. Now, I slather my lips in this mask before bed and never wake up with chapped lips anymore!

Follow along!
Subscribe to my Emails | Instagram | LIKEtoKNOW.it | Pinterest | TikTok