I have some really fun Amazon finds this month. Linking up with Tanya.

Hello Gorgeous Sign

I saw this sign and had to have it. I didn’t order it right away, but I showed Chris later that evening and he clicked the order button for me. I love it so much and it brings so much joy to my daily life since I have it in my office. It would also be cute in a closet or bathroom.

Swimsuit

I have never ordered a swimsuit on Amazon before. Someone I follow on Instagram did a reel with this swimsuit looking amazing with a really powerful message, and then Biana DM’d me and said she had this suit too…so I was sold. I ordered my usual swimsuit size, and this fit is amazing!!!! I feel so good in this, which is a task for me to feel good in anything right now. I would never have grabbed something with an open cutout like this, but it is at the smallest part of me and makes it even more flattering. Highly recommend!!!!

Salt Flakes

I know this isn’t a super fun one, but none of our grocery stores carry the fancy flakey salt. I love having this in my tiny marble bowl next to the stove as a finishing touch for dishes.

Multivitamin

This is a repurchase of my daily multivitamin I take. I saw a new doctor last week who told me that this brand was one that she approves of. She is very picky when it comes to supplements and I am glad that she was ok with this one, as it is one of the only ones I have found that doesn’t hurt my stomach.

Embraced Devotional

I have had it on my heart so spend some quiet time with God each morning. No better way to get back into that routine than a devotional. This one is beautiful, and the messages are really hitting it for me.

Satisfied

I also grabbed Satisfied this month. This is a larger coffee table size book. It is gorgeous and so inspiring. I am enjoying it slowly, just a few pages at a time to really soak it in. I will have it displayed in my office when I am done, because it is that pretty! It covers topics like fighting for faith, the comparison trap, our bodies, your own identity, thankfulness and it even has some good looking recipes at the end.

Alarm Clock

Zoe is afraid of the dark and likes to sleep with the hall light on and her door open. Growing up in a house with a firefighter, I know that is not a good thing to do. You are supposed to sleep with the bedroom door shut. I am trying to transition back to that and my friend recommended this clock that her daughter has. It lights up, and you can change the color of the light so its not quite as bright. It has a clock on it, and you can set the alarm for weekdays or every day. It also shows the date. I am starting to use the alarm for Zoe to get her in the habit of waking up on her own. I obviously still come upstairs and help her get ready…but if I am not up there right at 7am, she knows that she needs to get up, go potty and start picking out her clothes. The alarm has several options for noise, or you can just have the light come on. We chose a noise that sounds like an ice cream truck. It isn’t as obnoxious as a beeping sound. For those that have toddlers, you can also set an “ok to wake” light to come on.

Bun Maker

Zoe has to have her hair in a high bun for both numbers at her dance recital this year. Girlfriend unfortunately has super fine hair like me and doesn’t even have enough to put in a high bun. This is going to help her out and give her that perfect ballerina bun they are all striving for!

When I Pray For You

I love Matthew Paul Turner’s children’s books. We have three others and when I saw this one, I knew I had to grab it for Zoe. I think I am going to save it for her Easter basket. This would make an excellent Easter basket addition or even for a baby shower present.

Bubble Bath

I am always grabbing cleaner products for Zoe and was excited to grab this Hello Bello Bubble Bath to try out. It is lavender scented and smells so amazing and comforting for those after school/before bed baths. Zoe has super sensitive skin, so I am always happy when I can find products like this for her to use.

Honest Lotion

This is a repurchase. We use this every night when Zoe get’s out of the bath. Such a good habit to moisturize after a bath/shower.

Garment Bag

I ordered this for Zoe’s dance costumes. Backstage at recital can get really crazy. Zoe has 16 girls in her dance class, plus a mom for each and two backstage assistants and wooooo. Let’s just say there is glitter, and feathers and hairspray everywhere. Not to mention that 16 girls are all around the same size and wearing the exact same thing! I love that this particular garment bag has zip pockets in the front to hold the tights, hair bows, feathers, and shoe bows that go along with each costume. There is a clear window so you can see without opening what costume is inside. I am going to try to find somewhere to embroider this for me, or make a vinyl sticker with Zoe’s name on it to make it even easier, and cuter. Love that this was a 3-pack, making the price great!

Mobility Bites

This is a repurchase of Mac’s mobility bites that he takes nightly. Mac is going to be 12 this year, and I feel like these keep him moving easier. For awhile he was having problems jumping up on the couch and climbing stairs, but ever since we started him on these over a year ago…he hasn’t struggled.

I had some really good reads this month. Out of all of these, I feel like The Night Shift, Beach Reads and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry will end up on my list of favorites for the year. These are three books that have stuck with me. Let’s just jump right in, shall we?

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

I suggested this one for book club because I enjoyed Every Last Fear enough to know that this was going to be messed up in a good way. You know what I mean?

This book reads so fast, I literally read the last 60% of it in one sitting. I think that is due to the short chapters and multiple POV. I really enjoyed the throw back to Y2K and Blockbuster. If you are into true crime podcasts, Finlay’s cases in his books remind me of ones I would hear on podcasts. While I figured out a few things early on in this book, there were definitely some twists I didn’t see coming. The way he weaved certain things into both cases, and ties to different people. It was complex. I also enjoyed the bits of the characters we got to know. I feel like you got to see who Keller, Atticus, Chris, Ella and Jesse were as people. I felt like the ending happened so quickly, maybe a little too abruptly? I was just like what??? But I really appreciated there was an epilogue to tie a few things up.

Bottom Line: Read it!

**I received a copy of The Night Shift from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane

Two of my favorite reads for the last two years were from McFarlane….so I knew I had to go back and read anything she has written previously. This one started out really slow, but it picks up a lot in the second half. I felt like I could really relate to Georgina, and I just loved Lucas. There are a lot of heavy topics discussed in this book. It was much more serious than I thought it would be. Honestly, it isn’t so much about Lucas and Georgina, as it is overcoming your past. I definitely wish we could have gotten more of them, because I really loved them so much.

Bottom Line: Read it.

A Tasty Dish by Kelly Cain

I received an audio copy of a Tasty Dish. The narrator was great and I enjoyed listening to her. She really brought Kasi to life for me, because I have a feeling if I would have actually read it myself, she would have fallen flat. And maybe that is where I will start with my review of the actual story.

This is supposed to be a series about the Everheart brothers, but I feel like they are hardly in the book at all, other than when Kasi and Declan mention them. I like that Kasi is a strong female lead, trying to not be shadowed by her famous father. But to me, she comes off selfish and reacts over the top about everything. One minute her and Declan cant keep their hands off each other and she is “catching feelings”, and the next she is writing him off and out of her life. So their relationship doesn’t feel that strong for me. I would have liked to have gotten some chapters from Declan’s perspective. I don’t really feel like we got to know him. Again, is this a series about the brothers if the entire book is in a females prospective? I don’t really think it is. The middle of the book also dragged a bit. I find that I am more patient with audiobooks than I am ones I am actually reading. This one passed the time just fine, but isn’t all that memorable.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed the narration of this one, and it was entertaining to listen to. I feel like it wouldn’t have been as strong for me if I would have read it on my own. It’s one that passed the time just fine, but I am not sure I will remember much about it in a few months if someone asked.

**I received a copy of a Tasty Dish from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

I love that this is a book about the mother/daughter relationship. I was closer to my mom growing up than my dad, and I really hope that my daughter and I keep a close relationship as well. This book definitely pulls at the heart strings, and I can’t imagine how lost Katy must have felt right after the death of her mother. The setting in Italy is amazing, and it makes me want to hop on a plane and visit!

There was a lot of wisdom in these pages, but I found myself having a hard time connecting with Katy. While I am close to my mom, and I hope that Zoe is always close with me…I am not narcistic enough to think that I am the love of either of their lives. I also think that Katy treated her very supportive husband like complete garbage, and those parts were really hard to read. Overall, I really enjoyed this book but I am also left wondering exactly what we were supposed to think of Katy seeing her mom in Italy. If you read it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Bottom Line: Read it.

**I received a copy of One Italian Summer from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions of of my own.**

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

This book was so cute. So darn cute! I am just a puddle of goo after finishing it. I absolutely loved it. It is a little cheesy, super sweet, and just really enjoyable. I loved You Deserve Each Other as well by the same author.

Bottom Line: Read it!

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Orthberg

Audrey recommended this book. I am trying to read a few more nonfiction books each year, hopefully adding at least one each month. This one really hit me right in the gut. There were so many good takeaways from this book. Comer definitely hit the head on the nail with some of the points he made in this book about the distractions of life and needing to slow down. It has definitely made me want to change the way I go about some things. There was lots of good advice, but a few things that were a bit impractical. I could have done without the virtue signaling and the few political comments as well.

Bottom Line: Read it! Such a great read, one that will stick with you and want to reflect back on often.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

I am pretty sure I am the last person to read this one. I loved People We Meet on Vacation, and this one was just as good! I blew through it, just wanting to see how it all unfolded. I loved January and Gus. I feel like Emily Henry’s characters are always so dynamic and relatable. The banter and chemistry between these two could be felt. January’s sense of humor is amazing. While this book is considered romance, there is much deeper and heavier things going on. I just all around enjoyed this one, will most likely make my favorites list for the year.

Bottom Line: Read it! Definitely lives up to the hype.

Currently Reading

Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella

Happy Friday! This month is flying right on by. A little coffee chat is in order, no? Want to see how random I can get….here we go! This week Zoe had spring pictures and cap and gown pictures. I can’t believe she is graduating preschool and we will be registering her for kindergarten. I am so not ready for this and in complete denial.

Zoe’s Sandals / Dress is from local children’s boutique

I had an eye doctor appointment last week, and my glasses came in. I ordered a pair of regular ones, but also prescription sunglasses. If you have been on the fence about prescription sunglasses before, just do it! They are seriously life changing!!!!

Other than that, I have just been busy working, chauffeuring Zoe around to school, gymnastics and dance. Trying to find shoes that fit that kids foot. I feel like every time we finally have all the different ones she needs for different outfits/occasions….she will wake up one morning and none of them fit. How does this even happen?? Her foot runs a little wide and I have the hardest time with some shoes. Any mommas out there with the same issue? She still has a toddler wide foot, but is in bigger girl sized shoes now. It makes it difficult. If you have any brand suggestions, let me know!

I had lunch with a friend yesterday, it was so good for my soul. Hopefully we can be back to having lunch regularly. It works out that she works in the city I live in, making it super easy to run out for a little while in the middle of the day. I think we are going to try to go shopping next week for lunch! Making time for girls lunch and dates with your husband are important!

Have you ever heard of color analysis? You consider different things about yourself, like you eyes, skin tone, hair color, etc and find the right color palette that suits your coloring best. I am always fascinated by stuff like this. I truly feel that if you are wearing the right colors that make you happy and feel good on the outside, you feel better and are more confident on the inside too. Anyways, I did a deep dive into all of this a few weeks ago and I really enjoyed a few sources out there that offer free advice. Getting professionally analyzed costs mega bucks I wasn’t willing to throw down. This is as easy as uploading a photo and grabbing swatches from your skin, hair and eyes. Based on this, I am a cool summer.

Let me know if you take the quiz and what palette you are.

I also really liked the spring/summer capsule wardrobe that Erin Busbee put out. Do you look at capsule wardrobes to get inspiration for your own? I actually have a few similar pieces in this collection. I am not the person who could live off a capsule wardrobe, but I like the idea of them. At least having pieces that are effortlessly mix and match.

Favorite Finds: These slides are on my wish list for spring/summer in gold. I have had my eye on them for awhile, and they were actually part of the capsule collection I shared above too.

I have had it on my heart for awhile to sit with God in the mornings. I found this devotional and it has really been speaking to me. Just taking that quiet time in the mornings has been helping to quiet my mind and prepare me for the day.

This neck cream & chest cream has been a win. It is very affordable (under $10) and hasn’t caused my skin to break out, rash or act weird. Neck creams can be very temperamental for whatever reason.

Favorite Recipe: I am once again in a meal planning funk. Why is it so exhausting to come up with breakfast, lunch and dinner for a family for the week, every week??? I start getting stuck in a rut, or nothing sounds good, items being out of stock at the grocery store, the sheer amount we have to spend at the grocery store. It is all too much sometimes, you know? Anyways. I pinned a bunch of new shit in hopes that I will be inspired. This pad thai chicken recipe looks good.

Favorite Workout: Wooooo this leg day I felt for two days after. You know you worked hard when that happens! Admittedly, I haven’t kept up with the 12 weeks, but I have chosen several days from the plan to incorporate into my week. I usually work out Monday-Friday and take Saturday and Sunday to rest.

Favorite Funnies:

Linking up for Friday Favorites!!! It is a rainy one here today, but looks like the weekend will be nice. Hopefully we can get in a playdate tomorrow with friends and find some other fun to get up to. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Happy Friday! We had such a beautiful weekend last week. Sunny, in the 70s, a slight wind at times. Zoe had a playdate with one of her friends and they played so well together. Outside in the bounce house most of the time. Tonight, we have a winter weather advisory and it might snow. Gotta love the south in that weird transition from winter to spring, right?

Zoe had observation at dance last night and we got to try on their recital costumes. The girls looked so cute! It is crazy to see pictures of them from their first observation night three years ago versus now. She will get a trophy at the recital for the first time this year, and I cant wait to see her accept it!

I got my hair cut and colored yesterday. Nothing will make you feel more able to take on the world than a fresh hair cut, am I right?

Favorite Finds: I heard a podcaster talking about CJLA and that they offered some American made clothing. Great, affordable pieces that were classic and wardrobe staples. I decided to check them out and I cannot get enough! I ordered a dress from them, and then another immediately after and have a friend turned onto them too. I have struggled so much lately with finding things I like in stores, and now I feel I have a great go-to. I follow them on Instagram and they are really helpful sharing try-ons with different body types and if you ask them questions in their DMs, they are very responsive. They have new launches and collections all the time. Can’t wait to see their next one! I am waiting on my Rocco dress to get here.

I saw this blazer at Walmart and it gets great reviews. It is the perfect dupe for the much more expensive designer one that I have had my eyes on for quite awhile. It comes in several colors and I really love the navy, royal blue and white as well. It seems to be selling out in certain colors really fast, so definitely don’t sleep on this.

I got a Josie Maran body butter in my FabFitFun box last month and I LOVE it. Definitely my new favorite body butter. I have been switching over most of my products to cleaner options (I am not perfect) and the most important to me are the ones I slather everywhere. Synthetic fragrances are truly awful for you, and this doesn’t have any. It leaves me skin so soft for hours. There are several scents to chose from. I got the citrus one and my box and I like it, I really want to try the Vanilla Fig next.

Favorite Recipe: This chicken piccata recipe has been a staple in our house for awhile. Even Zoe will eat it. It comes together in under 30 minutes and is perfect for weeknights. Definitely don’t skip the fresh lemon zest.

Favorite Funnies:

Annnnnnnd because I was reminded yesterday that the time change is this weekend. Lord help us.

Linking up for Friday Favorites. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with Tanya for our Amazon finds. Not a very exciting Amazon month over here, but definitely some staples.

EO Body Wash

I grabbed this body wash to try, I wanted something that didn’t have synthetic fragrance and cleaner ingredients. The scent reminds me of a more natural smelling Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy one I used to get a long time ago. It is so refreshing first thing in the morning.

Mrs Meyers Room Spray

This scent smells so sophisticated and expensive. It is hard to describe. Just trust me on this one and try it out. It freshens up your house instantly, great for that panic when you find out you have a guest coming over! As sad as I am to say this, I try not to burn candles often. I know they aren’t good for you, and I only do it when we have company or for ambiance when I am stressed from time to time. I tend to lean more towards sprays and mostly diffusers.

Affresh

No description needed, right?

Dryer Vent Cleaner

Lindsay had shared this awhile back and I have to admit…I have never cleaned mine more than just grabbing whatever the lint trap catches after each load. Game changer. It is on sale right now too!

Hemp Seeds

When I cancelled my Thrive Market membership, I realized there were several products I needed to find a replacement for. I cannot find Hemp seeds at any local grocery store. Sometimes you can get them at HomeGoods but I have struck out the last few times I have checked. So glad Amazon has them at a decent price. These are the BEST way to add some protein and nutrition to your yogurt, acai bowl, baked goods, etc.

Breathable Mask

If you are looking to comply, but still want to breathe….these masks are great. I am ready for Zoe’s gymnastics gym to drop this mandate for parents and coaches. It is the only place that requires it locally besides the doctor’s office.

Honest Lotion

Grabbed this for Zoe. I love using this or Tubby Todd on her to clear up any eczema or rough patches, but this is easier for everyday. The scent reminds me of when she was younger when we used this shampoo.