What I Got For My 25th Birthday

I’m normally not one who likes a lot of fuss or attention on my birthday, but since I regard turning 25 as being significant (probably the 2nd most significant 20s birthday behind turning 21), I decided to organize a little birthday dinner at The Cheesecake Factory with my closest friends and some of my family. It was a beautiful night, and I was so grateful to have all of my favorite people together in one place. I asked everyone to make a donation to a charity in lieu of a gift, but everyone brought me something anyway, which was extremely sweet and unexpected. I’m grateful for my friends and loved ones, and grateful to have another year of health, prosperity, opportunity, and happiness.

One thing that I bought for myself was an Avatar the Last Airbender tarot deck designed by artist yappangie.arts. I recently rewatched ATLA for the first time in years and quickly got hooked on it, and was subsequently thrilled to discover that someone had combined the show with my other favorite thing: tarot cards! I was even more shocked that the cards were still in stock, considering they first started appearing on the internet years ago. Although they were fairly expensive after paying for shipping, I was happy to support a small business, and equally happy to have them in my hands on my actual birthday. They are just as beautiful in person as they are in the photos, and I was shocked by how quickly they arrived at my door. If you’re interested in checking out this deck for yourself, you can find Angie’s site here!

I was also gifted a tarot deck that was on my list for a while- the Ottoman Turkish edition of the Rumi Tarot. I’ve been learning Turkish on Duolingo for about six months, and having a Turkish deck has allowed me to further connect spiritually with the culture, as well as practice learning the language. Although I can hardly read the deck, it’s easily translatable, and I am deeply moved and inspired by the illustrations in this deck. It will easily go on to be one of the most treasured decks I own.

Obviously we have to talk about the Appa pillow pet! Y’all know by now that I am heavily into my Avatar the Last Airbender era, and since my last emotional support stuffed animal/heating pad caught on fire in the microwave a few months ago, I was definitely looking for a replacement. Now I have a two-in-one deal: a pillow, but also a friendly plush companion.

My mom brought me some very sweet self care items, such as scented candles, face masks, gel eye pads, and a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. I’ve been going through a rough patch in my interpersonal life last week and this week, so these items definitely came in handy (specifically the gel eye pads- they were a blessing for my face after I cried for four hours straight this weekend.) I LOVE doing jigsaw puzzles, and this enormous “bestseller books” themed puzzle is going to keep me busy and distracted for a while. Moms seem to always have a way of knowing when you’re going through a hard time and you need some extra care.

My good friend who visited from New York City brought me these amazing cookies from one of his favorite bakeries- a metro card themed cookie, and a Taylor Swift themed “Karma” cookie. I almost didn’t even want to eat them, because I was so impressed with the design and didn’t want to ruin them! (Ultimately I did eat them, and they were delicious.) My other friend got me some mini eyeshadow palettes from Sephora, which I am super excited to use, as well as the sweetest handwritten birthday card. I am a well-known hoarder of eyeshadow palettes to my friends and family, so I was very excited to add these new ones to my collection.

The greatest gift of all for me was to simply have everyone I care about with me on my birthday. Several people traveled from out of state, including my mom, who drove down all the way from Maine to spend a couple of hours with me. I’m grateful for the thoughtful gifts I received, but more than anything, I just feel so lucky to have caring, humble, kindhearted people in my inner circle.

My Current Skincare Routine (with before and after pictures)

I am someone who has struggled with hormonal acne, enlarged pores, redness, and general skin irritation for much of my life. I’ve tried almost every regime and brand under the sun, including Proactiv, Paula’s Choice, and CeraVe. After playing around with loads of combinations and products for almost 13 years, I’ve finally found a regime that I think works best for me. The first step in achieving better skin in my case was ceasing the use of facial makeup, and de-masking after the (hopeful) end of the pandemic helped my skin a ton as well. I’m definitely not a doctor or a dermatologist, and I’m not qualified to give any semblance of professional skincare advice, but here’s a list of what I’ve been personally using to maintain my normal-oily, acne-prone skin.

Morning

Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer | Trader Joe’s | $8.99

The first thing I do in the morning after splashing cold water on my face and toweling off is apply a thin layer of moisturizer. For a fairly long time, I never did this, because my skin leans on the normal-oily combo side and I was apprehensive of over-moisturizing. What I’ve learned is that moisturizing regularly is actually GOOD for folks with oily skin- it can help prevent skin from breaking out more by creating a healthy layer of hydration. It also helps in the morning as a priming layer before sunscreen- which does notoriously dry out my skin- if I don’t prep correctly.

Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 | Trader Joe’s | $8.99

Sunscreen is lauded as one of the most important steps of sunscreen and maintaining skin health, so I try to use a daily facial sunscreen every day. Most sunscreens I have used in the past cause my skin to become too oily and prone to breakouts, but this sunscreen does the opposite- it actually dries me out if I apply it to my bare face. To combat this, I apply a thin layer of moisturizer to my face first (see step 1!) and then finish off with this daily sunscreen. All I have left to do is apply some lip balm and tinted eyebrow gel, and I’m good to go for the day.

Evening

Makeup remover towelette | Assorted brands | $3.99

In the evening, before I hop in the shower, I begin my nighttime skincare routine by gently wiping my skin clean with a makeup removing towelette. Even though I hardly wear makeup, I include this step to remove as much of my SPF as possible. I’m not 100% sure what happens if you don’t completely remove your sunscreen, but I’ve heard it’s better to not take chances.

Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil | Trader Joe’s | $5.99

Once I’m in the shower, engulfed in the sauna mist of lava-tempered water, I remove any remaining dirt, oil, and SPF with an oil cleanser. I like this one because tea tree is one of my favorite fragrances, and a little goes a long way with this specific formula. Tea tree oil is VERY intense, so if you do try out this facial cleanser, be sure to keep it away from your eyes!

Rose Petal Facial Toner | Thayer’s | $8.99

My skin is usually feeling a little dry and stripped after a lava shower and two cleansers, so I soothe it back to baseline with a facial toner. Thayer’s witch hazel is alcohol free, which I consider a must with toners if you want to truly moisturize and replenish your skin. I believe there is a fragrance-free version of this toner, but I absolutely love the rose petal scent and look forward to this step as my favorite in the entire routine.

Retinol Night Serum | Trader Joe’s | $9.99

Even though my skin is young now, it won’t always be, so I’m enacting some early anti-aging steps to keep my skin as glowing and healthy as I possibly can. I find that consistently using retinol has also shrunk the appearance of pores on my nose, which used to be a huge insecurity for me. Retinol serums can tend to get pricey, so if you’re looking for a cheap place to start, I’ve had a very positive experience with this one from Trader Joe’s. As a word of advice, I would start with a small amount of retinol and slowly work your way up, as it can be abrasive for those with sensitive skin.

Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer | Trader Joe’s | $8.99

I finish off the facial aspect of my nighttime routine by applying a layer of moisturizer to my face, which will hopefully lock in all of the vitamins and astringents I just applied. By this point in my routine, my skin feels smooth, supple, moisturized, and fresh, and I’m ready to apply a scented body lotion and a few spritzes of perfume before I get into bed. However, my skincare routine is not *quite* finished yet; I can’t forget brows and lips.

Conditioning Brow Serum | Anastasia Beverly Hills | $65 

You could argue I am someone who does not make sound financial decisions if I am using a $6 cleanser and a $65 brow serum. I learned about this product from NikkieTutorials, who documented her own successful eyebrow-regrowth story on YouTube and specifically highlighted this product. As someone who lived through the 2000s and unfortunately fucked up my eyebrows with plucking on more than one occasion, I immediately knew I wanted to invest in this seemingly miracle product. I’ve been using it for about 8 weeks and to be honest, I don’t see much of a difference in hair growth (if any at all.) However, it does make my eyebrows feel conditioned and soft, which is what it’s advertised to do, so it’s not a complete L. I received another tube of this serum for my birthday, so I’m going to continue using this product for another 8 weeks and update accordingly if I see a difference.

Vanilla Lip Mask | Trader Joe’s | $5.99

I didn’t know much about lip masks and how they worked before I picked one up at Trader Joe’s, but now that I’ve tried one, I don’t think I can ever go back. The Vanilla lip mask from Trader Joe’s comes in a fairly generous-sized pot, and a little goes a long way, so I definitely feel like I’ve gotten my money’s worth by now. The consistency is very thick, but not uncomfortable, and it does an excellent job keeping my lips feeling smooth and moisturized year-round. As someone who used to struggle with having dry, cracked lips all the time, this product has been a lifesaver in my routine.

Weekly

Sheet masks, clay masks, and exfoliators

I didn’t use facial masks and exfoliators for a long time because I was under the impression there isn’t any actual scientific evidence proving that they work; HOWEVER, I recently received a rosé sheet mask from my mom that I SWEAR actually made a difference. Since then, I’ve been slowly but surely collecting sheet masks from CVS to see if I can find another holy grail. I will say, I don’t love the way a sheet mask feels while it’s on my face, but I generally always feel better, physically and emotionally, after I’ve used one. I was using the Freeman Japanese Matcha cream mask for a couple of weeks, but I may discontinue that as I think my skin is a little *too* sensitive for the formula. The Freeman Indonesian Coconut exfoliator is in my rotation as well, but I use that infrequently for the same reason as the Japanese Matcha mask.

Ultimately, I’m very happy with how my skin is looking and feeling on a daily basis. For anyone out there reading who is struggling with acne or building a successful skincare regime, don’t lose hope! Skincare is such a nuanced and complicated process, and it is often a trial-and-error game until you’re able to find some products that fit your skin’s unique needs.

What I Spend in a Day Living in Boston

I first moved to Boston at the age of 18 for school, and during my senior year of college, got my first apartment with a group of roommates. Now, I’m 25 years old, living on my own, and happily still enjoying my life as a resident of the city. As some of you may know, Boston is a fairly pricey place to live, so I thought it would be fun to break down what I spend in a day as a 25 year-old woman and what most living expenses cost me on an average day.

It’s noteworthy to add that I work from home 3 days of the week, and I tend to spend much less on those days since I don’t have to worry about the subway fare, and I typically make food and coffee at home. But for all intents and purposes, let’s pick a Thursday to follow, when I’m required to be in the office and I’m more likely to grab a coffee and some lunch on the go.

First, I’m going to divide the cost of my monthly rent by 30, to see what I technically pay per day to live. My rent is $1,495, so in the month of April, it costs about $50/day to rent.

Next, since this is a day I am going into the office, we have to factor in the subway fare. A one-way subway ride in Boston costs $2.40, and since I will take the subway home again in the afternoon, I’ll multiply it by two for a grand total of $4.80.

On days that I’m home I like to make coffee in my french press, but since I don’t typically have time on an office day, I’m grabbing an iced coffee from Dunks on my way. I typically only order a coffee and avoid any breakfast items, as I’m usually not very hungry in the morning. Right now, my preferred order is a medium iced coffee with cream and butter pecan flavoring. After taxes, it comes out to $5.72.

After working in the office for a few hours, I start thinking about lunch. On this particular day, I visited Tatte Bakery for a turkey avocado sandwich. It cost $12.75 with $1.28 in tax, for a grand total of $14.03. Not a bad price for eating out for lunch, considering an average Chipotle bowl is close to $14 in Boston anyway!

I head out around 4:00pm on Thursday and I’m usually home by 5:00-5:15pm. I ended up having leftovers for dinner, so I didn’t spend any additional money on food. My last purchase of the day was around 8:00pm, as I was getting low on toilet paper and decided to grab a few roles from CVS, along with a new bottle of Dawn dish soap. CVS isn’t my favorite place to shop for household items because it’s sort of expensive, but I don’t have a car and it’s the closest convenience store to my home. My total came out to $12.68 for those two items, and that was the last purchase I made for the day.

Altogether, I spent $37.23 over the course of one day in Boston, or $87.23 if you count that day’s portion of rent. Compared to your city, how much do you spend in one day? Is it cheaper than my total, or far more expensive? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

Hobbies & Skills I Want to Improve in 2024

I don’t exactly make New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in the concept of “In’s” and “Out’s.” So far, 2024 has been my year to grow up a bit and dedicate more intentional time to my hobbies, my goals, and my healing. Here’s a list of everything I’ve been loving and enriching my life with so far.

Reading

Being a reader or a ‘bookworm’ is a personality facet that has been attached to me for a long time. At an elementary school awards ceremony, I was the recipient of the “love of reading award,” during which the principal commented he always noticed me with my nose in a book. I’ve always enjoyed reading several books (between 6-10) at once, rather than one book at a time. As I’ve gotten older, my motivation and passion for reading is still there, but comes in inconsistent waves. I’m sure lots of folks will be able to relate to the sentiment of finding deep satisfaction in buying books, but struggling to actually find time to sit down and read them. In 2024, I want to do a better job disciplining myself to actually sit down and read the books I have on my list, as well as reread some of my favorite classics. In fact, most of the books I am reading right now are titles I’ve already read in the past! 

Here’s my current list:

Anne of Windy Poplars (reread)

Sense and Sensibility (reread)

Little Women (reread)

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes (first time reading)

A Tale for the Time Being (reread)

The World According to Color (reread)

I enjoy rereading familiar titles for the same reason I’m sure many people have a “comfort” TV show. I also enjoy rereading books to see if there is anything else I learn or pick up on that I may have missed the first time. For example, I’ve read Little Women more times than I can count, but every time I read it, I realize something new or understand the book in a deeper, more mature context. 

Writing

Similarly to being a reader, being a writer is an identity facet that I have carried with me for as long as I can remember. I’ve explored practicing all different types of writing: poetry (not my best work lol,) blogging, fiction, and nonfiction research essays. I have ideas for novels that I have started to prep and pen down, but once I get into chapter 3 or 4, I start to lose my motivation. I am not going to promise myself that I’ll write an entire novel by the end of 2024, but I do want to challenge myself to not give up on my book ideas. Even if I’m only writing a couple of chapters per month on my book, or publishing 3 articles on my blog a month, I’m going to try to be happy with that and keep up this habit.

Tarot/Spirituality

I first got into tarot reading last summer, when an old coworker of mine brought in her own cards and offered to educate me. I don’t believe that tarot cards are magical or predict the future, but I was absolutely spellbound by the gorgeous imagery, symbolism, and practice of learning and interpreting cards. That coworker and friend gifted me a deck shortly before I left that job, and since then I have been collecting decks and learning about the cards as a hobby. Although there are thousands of decks available, my personal favorite is the OG Rider-Waite deck. 90% of the decks I collect are reprints or reimaginings of Rider-Waite, with the exception of my Tarot de Marsielle deck (the one I struggle to read the most.) I don’t consider myself to be an expert on tarot or anything like that, but it has been totally life changing for me and paramount to my spiritual and personal growth. I have been quoted as saying “Yes, therapy is good, but you know what really healed me? Tarot cards and iron supplements.”

Some of the decks on my wishlist are the Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights deck, the pink Rider-Waite deck, the ATLA deck, the Rumi Tarot deck (Turkish edition,) and the Ukiyoe deck by Koji Furuta.

Language Learning

Language learning is not my biggest objective to master in 2024, but it is something I have picked up as a hobby that I enjoy passively working on a little bit every day. I don’t expect to become fluent in Turkish on Duolingo alone, but it’s been a great tool for me to learn the basics and achieve my goal of learning a little bit every day. Turkish is a beautiful language, and a beautiful culture in general. Taking a bit of time to practice Turkish also satisfies my inescapable craving to simply learn– I love learning and miss being in school for this reason! Once I complete my Turkish course, I’m hoping to jump back into French as well, and at some point learn conversational Japanese (as I would love to visit Japan!)

Anime

Watching anime television shows is something I have been curious about for a while, but haven’t given a shot until now. I haven’t seen very many shows so far, but since January I’ve watched Death Note, Madoka Magica, and I’ve started Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. I have a long list of shows to watch, including most of the classics, but I’m trying to stick with watching one show at a time. I don’t think I could pick a favorite this far; Death Note feels special because it’s the first one I watched, but there is just something so special about Madoka Magica. I recently discovered that my older brother is also a fan of anime, so being able to watch shows and then discuss them with him has been a wonderful bonding experience for us.

Fitness/Yoga

Hitting the gym is usually not a resolution I make for myself, as I typically lose interest in working out after a couple of months and get frustrated by the lack of results. This year was different for a couple of reasons. For one, I started taking an iron supplement a couple of months ago and that has enormously increased my energy levels, mood, and motivation. Secondly, I set my sights low for my expectations of fitness. I told myself I would try to go to the gym 2-3 times per week and go at an easy-moderate pace. Once I did that for a few days and realized how easy it was, I decided to bump up my gym visits to 4-5 times per month and I slowly increased the intensity. Being active and working so hard to be fit subsequently enabled me to think more critically about the foods I ate and how it would be such a waste of a workout to eat too many unhealthy foods, so I then started changing my diet as well. I’ve been working out for at least a month by now, and I have really been enjoying having this routine incorporated into my life, regardless of what my body looks like. I have also enjoyed taking restorative yoga classes once a week, which feels like such a treat for both my body and soul and improves my sleep exponentially.

Therapy

I have not been to therapy for about six months due to issues with my insurance, and while my baseline for my mental health is pretty good, I would like to revisit bi-weekly or monthly therapy to work on some of my nittier-grittier habits and coping skills. Particularly since I have gotten so into mindfulness and spirituality these past few months, I think it would be super helpful to connect with a therapist who could help me incorporate those tools into sessions. That being said, I can’t update my insurance policy until July, so it’s going to take me a bit of time to get that sorted out, and then even more time to try out different therapists and see which one I connect with the most.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my dreams, goals, and aspirations for 2024. Like I said, I’m not much of a “resolutions” person, so I’m hoping this gentler approach to setting self-expectations will continue to be both enjoyable and challenging for me.

Renovating My Studio Apartment: Part 2 (Entryway)

Now that my bathroom renovations are complete, I wanted to move on to what I thought would be the next easiest project to tackle: my entryway. Due to its small size and multipurpose functionality, I decided to not settle on a fruit theme for this section of the apartment and simply just spruce it up. My main objectives for this portion of the renovation were to add in a rug/runner, figure out a way to organize my shoes, and improve the lighting. I also wanted to find a new spot to put some of my favorite books, trinkets, and crystals, as I am eventually going to be getting rid of the set of drawers I am currently using for storage.

I once again purchased most of these items off of Amazon due to the fact that I was looking for very specific styles and dimensions. I purchased a hanging shoe pouch that fits over my door, a set of LED lights, a beautiful runner, and a bamboo shelving unit that fit perfectly into my entryway. I also purchased some wall adhesives and frames to display my degrees, which were unfortunately stuffed into a random folder until now. I did sadly break a nail in the process of getting these frames up, but I’d say it was worth it, because the wall looks finished and it makes me extremely happy to look at.

It’s hard to pick a favorite component of the renovation, but this shelf might be the favorite. It just fits *so* beautifully and perfectly displays all of my worldly goods, the way I wanted it to. It was even easy to put together, despite the fact that it may look like there’s lots of design components. 

The lighting aspect also makes me very, very happy. It was admittedly a bit of a pain to install, but totally worth it. I enjoy having the option to switch around the color depending on my mood, and it’s nice to have a pleasing light source in my place that’s not directly glaring in the middle of my apartment. At nighttime, when most of my apartment lights are powered off, it’s nice to have this one on in the far corner of the room. 

I’m not the best with figuring out sizing and dimensions, so I really lucked out with this rug. I think it fits perfectly! The only downside is that my linen closet door gets caught on this rug whenever I try to open it, so that’s been a bit of a pain, but aesthetic-wise I think it was a nice choice and it makes the entryway feel so much cozier.

Lastly, having the shoe pouch on my door has definitely freed up some space for me and has made the clothing rack look so much neater and cleaner. It also makes it so much easier to find my shoes in the morning, which is a must on the days when I’m running out the door. 

I am overall really happy with how this cosmetic renovation went over. The upgrades were fairly cheap, and with the exception of a couple of broken nails, it went smoothly for the most part. I might consider adding some artwork above my clothing rack down the line, but for now, I’m going to try to not put any more holes in the wall. I am hoping to renovate my bed/bedroom area next, which is going to be more expensive, but also the most fun in my opinion! If I am able to stay on track with budgeting and planning, I should be able to finish my bedroom by the end of April or beginning of May.

My Favorite Boston Restaurants: An Updated List

I have definitely made posts like this in the past, but it’s been years since I last updated this list. Funnily enough, I don’t think much has changed. I’m a fan of fairly-priced eats that are plant-based friendly in the Boston area, and these are some of my current favorite options.

Amelia’s Taqueria | Mexican, Tex Mex | Brighton, Allston, Northeastern, Berklee

Amelia’s Taqueria holds a very special place in my heart. I live within walking distance of one of their locations, and am frequently recognized and remembered by the staff whenever I stop in. It’s not very hard to find an amazing taqueria in Boston, but there is something very special about Amelia’s and absolutely something MAGICAL in that queso sauce. I would highly recommend checking out this spot not only for the food and great prices, but also for the kindness of the staff and the all-around good vibes.

Los Amigos Taqueria | Mexican, Tex Mex | Brookline, Brighton, Newtonville, West Roxbury, Somerville

It seems no matter where I live in Boston, there is always a Los Amigos Taqueria close by. I first discovered this spot when I was in college and searching for a cheap place to find delicious food. At that time in my life, I was eating vegan and I struggled to find restaurants that could cater my needs while still being delicious. My friends and I went to Los Amigos ALL the time- on at least a weekly basis, but sometimes more. Although I’m not vegan now, my tried and true order has hardly changed at all and I still order out fairly often. Since there are so many locations, you’re bound to find a location close enough to you if you’re visiting the Boston area. I highly, HIGHLY recommend.

Grasshopper | Asian, vegetarian/vegan | Allston

Grasshopper was another restaurant I discovered in my vegan days that I still continue to order from often. Their menu is 100% vegan but imitates meat dishes incredibly. As someone who has since reintroduced chicken back into my diet, I can say with complete awe that their vegan dishes taste nearly exact to real chicken. Although the restaurant is a bit on the pricier side as opposed to some of my other choices, the portion sizes are very generous and will definitely feed you for several days. I love ordering out from this restaurant, but dining in is a very pleasant experience as well. The staff is so lovely and kind, and jasmine tea is served with each meal. Even if you’re not vegan or plant-based, I highly recommend checking out this restaurant. 

Dolce Vita Cafe | Coffee, sandwiches, breakfast | Brighton

Dolce Vita Cafe stole my heart from the first time I visited several years ago. It was actually one of the first small-business coffee shops I tried when I moved into my first apartment, and I continue to be a loyal customer to this day. I believe the two women who operate the cafe are sisters, and they remember who I am and what I like to order each time I come in. It is a little bit pricey for a cafe, but I don’t mind paying more to support a small business. It’s also totally worth it for the incredible quality of their coffees, sandwiches, and pastries. I think everything on their menu is a 10/10, but the breakfast sandwiches are especially fantastic. For coffee, the southern praline flavor has been my go-to for several months now.

Tasty Burger | American, burgers | Back Bay, Fenway, Harvard Sq, Central Sq

I originally discovered Tasty Burger because they are one of the only burger chains in the Boston area that carries a turkey burger. Veggie burgers are fine, mind you, but there’s just something about a turkey burger loaded with guacamole and carmelized onions that speaks to my soul. Their burgers, shakes, and tator tots are some of my favorite items for a cheat day when I’m up late watching trashy reality TV and not counting my calories. As an added bonus, their menu is very allergy-friendly and the staff are happy to accommodate your needs however they reasonably can.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these spots before, or if you’re now feeling inspired to check any of these out on your next trip to Boston!

Renovating My Studio Apartment: Part 1 (Bathroom)

This June, I will be resigning my lease for a third time in my current apartment. I absolutely LOVE my spot. I love my next-door neighbor, a girl my age who leaves baked goods for me outside my apartment. I love having gas, electricity, and hot water included in my rent- where else can you find that in Boston? And I absolutely love the size of my space. For more than one person, yes, it would be too small. But for just me? It’s perfect.

When I first moved in, having freshly put down $4,500 in deposits and rent, I barely had anything left in my pocket for furniture shopping. Thus, most of my furniture was found on the side of the road, or for $20 or under on Facebook marketplace. I’m very satisfied with how I decorated considering my budget, and I do think the furniture has served me well, but I’m ready for a change now. I’ve finished my master’s degree, I’m moving up in my salary, and I’m settling more into my space and really focusing on what I want for design elements, instead of just making do with what I have to work with. In less words: I am slowly cosmetically renovating my apartment to better reflect my aesthetics and my dreams for what I want this space to encompass. After all, someday I will likely have a partner or a family, and when that time comes, I will have to compromise on a lot of design elements and sacrifice some things I’d really like in my home. If I’m currently the only one paying for the roof over my head, why not go all out and style it exactly the way I want while I can?

My grand-scheme goal is to have a fruit-themed studio apartment. Here is the breakdown of what I’m planning:

Bathroom: peach

Bed: strawberry

Kitchenette: lemon

Office space: avocado

Although I do make a bit more money than I did three years ago, I’m still not rich and I live relatively paycheck to paycheck. All of these cosmetic upgrades are supplemented by my earnings on Rover, so I’m expecting this entire project to take around 6-8 months to complete. I’m starting small with the easiest rooms, which, in this case, is the bathroom.

I’m very happy with most of my apartment’s attributes, but my bathroom simply sucks. I live on a sub-basement level and have poor ventilation in my bathroom, as well as mold that grows into the cracked wood frame in the window of my shower (yes, my shower has a WINDOW.) I routinely need to have the mold removed by my maintenance man, and I do my best to regularly scrub everything down with bleach, but the walls and interior of my bathroom almost always have a gray cast of debris and dark water stains running down the ceiling. If I clean floor-to-ceiling on Monday, it will look just as bad by Thursday. 

So maybe there’s nothing I can do about the graycast and the ventilation, but I can swap out these stained shower liners, which have been here since I first moved in. I also bought a new shower curtain, as my white one was becoming increasingly stained with blue hair dye. 

I swapped out the current artwork on my wall for this amazing poster, which I especially love because it matches the shower curtain! Even though it isn’t peach themed, I still felt like it fit the vibe well.

Of course, I needed this bath mat that says “just peachy.”

Real flowers don’t do well in my bathroom due to the poor lighting and ventilation, so I bought this fake pink plant on Amazon and popped it into a vase I already owned. I also bought some peach towels, peach scented soap, and a peach scented candle to solidify the vibes.

I spent about 3 hours scrubbing down my shower to get it as bright and fresh as new. You may not see a huge difference from my pictures, but trust me when I say I could run my fingers over the tiles and reveal a streak of pure white- that’s how gray with dirt the tiles had become. As for other changes to my shower, I installed these press-on shelving units to hold my body washes and hair products, so that I don’t have to keep everything on the moldy window sill. That was probably my favorite and most satisfying upgrade!

I finished off the bathroom by adding in a little wicker basket with some of my favorite bath and beauty products, including, of course, some peach-themed products.

It took me a few hours to clean and another hour or so to decorate and install shelves, but I was able to complete everything in one day. I spent about $150 on the renovation, and although I couldn’t do much for the infrastructure of my awful bathroom, I’m already feeling so much better to have a cleaner, fresher space.

My next renovation project will be for my hallway, which will not per say be fruit themed (it’s more of an entryway than anything else and can’t fit much decore,) I am going to be installing a hallway rug runner and some LED lights for the ceiling. I also purchased a shoe pouch for my door, which I imagine will be VERY satisfying to organize.

More updates to come! Let me know what you think about this transformation so far.

Rating the Raw Sugar Kids Bath Products

My friends and family are very familiar with the lore of the Raw Sugar Kids bath products because I talk about it nonstop, but as for the rest of you, I think it’s time to clue you in. I have an unreasonable fascination with this line of products, and although they’re clearly made for children, I don’t care. They ALL smell amazing, and there’s not one bottle on this list that got less than four stars. The world of adults needs to know about the Raw Sugar Kids body washes + bubble baths, and I’m here to give you the real scoop on why I love them so much.

Strawberry Vanilla

Strawberry Vanilla was the first of the body washes that I smelled, and it immediately became my favorite until Superberry Cherry came along. Sometimes, strawberry-scented products are pointedly artificial and almost candy-like, but this one was perfect. It smells exactly like real, FRESH strawberries with a hint of vanilla. Strawberry is one of my favorite fruits (and design elements; I’m currently remodeling my bed to be themed around strawberries,) so it’s no surprise this body wash is getting five stars from me.

Rating: ★★★★★

Watermelon Lemonade

I bought Watermelon Lemonade in the same shopping trip as Strawberry Vanilla, and while it does also smell incredible and fresh, I’m just not *quite* as much of a watermelon fan as I am a strawberry fan. I do love it, but it’s just not my favorite. For that reason, I’m going to give this body wash a strong four out of five stars. That being said, if watermelon is your favorite fruit scent, you are going to absolutely love this one and it could easily be a top favorite for you.

Rating: ★★★★

Pineapple Orange

In a similar vein to Watermelon Lemonade, I like tropical citrus scents, but they aren’t my absolute favorite. This body wash smells fresh and delicious, just like the others, but for me personally, it lacks the more interesting/unique fragrance notes, such as with Strawberry Vanilla- which I think is such a fun and understated pairing of scents. There’s nothing wrong with Pineapple Orange, but there was simply nothing new or interesting about it to me. That being said, I’ll still give it four stars, because the smell is quite nice and it works just as well as the other ones.

Rating: ★★★★

Superberry Cherry

I was truly expecting to give Superberry Cherry four stars for the same reason Pineapple Orange and Watermelon Lemonade have four stars- I imagined it would smell nice, but not particularly special or unlike anything already on the market. However, I was wrong. I LOVE Superberry Cherry, even more than Strawberry Vanilla. Although Raw Sugar already has a separate raspberry-scented body wash, I definitely feel like Superberry Cherry has the strongest notes of raspberry (among other berries and stone fruits, such as cherries.) The scent is very strong, and I really love the way it makes my skin and my shower smell. Five stars, hands down.

Rating: ★★★★★

Raspberry Oat Milk

Last but not least, we have the body wash I was most excited to try. As you probably guessed from my Superberry Cherry review, raspberry is one of my favorite fragrance notes, and Raspberry Oat Milk sounded so inventive and perfect. While it IS really nice, it definitely has a softer fragrance and leans more creamy/fluffy rather than fruity. The raspberry scent is there, but it’s not as intense as Superberry Cherry. Nonetheless, I really enjoy using it, and if you enjoy slightly milder scents, you’ll probably love this one too!

Rating: ★★★★

There’s a lot of reasons I love these products, the scents being a big one, but I also enjoy how gentle they are on sensitive skin. I have been struggling with keratosis pilaris for a couple of years now, and these body washes have definitely decreased my number of flare-ups and breakouts. If you’ve tried any of these products yourself, I’m curious to know which one is your favorite!

Spring 2024 Lookbook (I’m Behind on Trends)

It may seem a bit early to be posting a spring lookbook, but in my defense, I had to switch around my posting calendar after the Raw Sugar Kids body washes got delayed in the mail. Thus, you’ll be getting a lookbook today and a body wash review on March 1st. 🙂 

I feel like 2024 has truly reignited my passion for fashion. 2023 was a difficult year for me predominantly due to finances, a lack of free time, and general depression. Although I’m sure I could have thrifted cute looks on a budget if I wanted to, my heart and soul definitely was not in it last year. For me, being a lifelong huge fan of fashion, 2023 was a strange stretch of time in which I didn’t really have a strong personal style or an interest in making myself feel good.

Finances have improved a bit this year, and my self esteem has improved as well, which means the passion I once had for putting together cute outfits has been reignited! I’m not sure how cohesive my style may seem to all of you, but I can say with confidence that my current style is definitely very me. Right now, being comfortable in my clothes is my #1 priority, so I’m opting for pieces that are soft and stretchy while still being flattering for my curvy figure. I’ve always loved the book of a t-shirt tucked into a stretchy A-line skirt, so that has been one of my favorite options for winter-spring transition outfits. Although I don’t play with much color in my wardrobe, I do enjoy playing with print, as you can see from my current favorite A-line skirt.

2024 has also been the year of the shoe for me. Aren’t these thrifted silver bootie heels absolutely amazing? I love the way they pair with both jeans and skirts, and although they’re not the most comfortable (contradicting myself here!), I have been pulling them out from time to time for days I spend in the office. I’m also really loving this pair of black ankle boots, also thrifted online. I’ve already worn them into the office twice, and I’m looking forward to pulling them out for many more brisk spring workdays.

Finding a pair of comfortable denim jeans is not the easiest thing to do from my personal experience, but I somehow managed to find a couple pairs of extremely comfortable jeans on Amazon last month. I typically don’t thrift jeans because I’m so picky about fit, material, and style, which is why I turned to Amazon in this instance. Although some people may dislike the feel of cheaper, thinner, stretchier jeans, I actually MUCH prefer that to the thick, bulky denim you often find in thrift stores. I am especially loving this light wash pair with a dramatic flared leg, and think they pair great with anything from a soft sweater to a graphic t-shirt. 

Sweater vests were not on my 2024 fashion bingo card for me personally, but I have inexplicably grown to love them. I am currently going through a thing with anything that is pastel or fruit themed, so obviously these three sweater vests were a must. They’re cozy and warm for the colder months, but since they aren’t too thick, they will also transition nicely into the warmer months when paired with a pair of denim shorts and a bucket hat. The blue and pink sweater vests on my board are from Amazon, but the green sheep vest (OBSESSED, by the way) is thrifted.

I was initially scared of this black pinafore dress due to how form-fitting it appeared, but I’ve decided that 2024 is going to be the year of loving my curves and NOT hiding them under baggy shirts and pants. I think this pinafore dress is so stylish and so lovely, and I’m really excited to wear it with a long-sleeved white shirt, as shown on the model.

For those who may be wondering, yes, that birkin bag is fake.

Although I haven’t pulled the plug yet on these white Steve Madden sneakers, they are definitely on my list. I love a white sneaker when I’m not in the mood for a heeled boot, and for $79, I honestly don’t think they’re too pricey, either. I tend to wear white sneakers into the ground, so I know I would at least get a good use out of them. 

Lastly, I want to touch on fragrance. I haven’t tried any KAYALI fragrances yet (Pistachio Yum is next on my list!), but I do own a bottle of Coco Mademoiselle. I’m not a fragrance expert, but I’m inclined to say my fragrance of choice does make sense with my personal style: sweet and feminine, but a little unique as well. I like people to know who I am when I walk into a room, not only for what clothes I’m wearing, but for what fragrance I’m wearing as well.

I haven’t done a lookbook in a while, but it feels so good to be writing one now. I’m looking forward to springtime, my birthday, growing my blog, and spending more time outside in nature. Here’s to hoping spring 2024 is my most fashionable ~and comfortable~ era yet.

What I’m (Re)Reading in 2024

Similarly with the TV shows and movies I watch, I often find myself gravitating back to the same books to read over again. And, in this case specifically, over and over and OVER again. 

Of the four books on this list, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton is the only book I’ve never read before. I know a bit about Greek mythology, but not as much as I’d like to, and I am completely clueless when it comes to mythology in other cultures. I figured this book would be a smooth introduction because it covers a decent amount of ground on many types of mythology, while also predominantly maintaining a strong undertone on the hierarchy within Greek mythology. I’ve only just started the book, but I’m already learning how to differentiate a Titan from a god. 

Anne of Windy Poplars is the fourth book in the Anne of Green Gables series, which I realize most folks don’t know actually is a series. I enjoy Anne of Green Gables so much and periodically reread the books, which does take a while, but is so worth it. It’s like tuning into a new episode of a period drama every week, and I find great comfort in reading about whatever Anne is up to and “catching up” with her like she’s an old friend. By this point in the book, she is engaged to Gilbert after finally confessing her love, but they are not yet married. Per usual, she is spreading joy and mischief and creativity, and inspiring me to become a better woman in my own life.

On the topic of books that encourage me to become a better woman, I’m also rereading Little Women for what has to be the ninth or tenth time. I truly do not think I could choose between Little Women and Anne of Green Gables for the #1 spot of my favorite books. I love them both for different reasons, though the stories of young, strong girls emerging into the strange world of adulthood is the same across both books. As a writer myself, I feel particularly close to Jo, as I think many young readers do. My current edition of Little Women is new, as I literally read my old copy so many times, it essentially physically fell apart. This edition is VERY cool- it contains recreations of the letters, notes, and newspaper clippings we hear about in the book, and it makes the story feel so much more tangible and even more fascinating to read.

I originally planned on rereading Jane Eyre this year, but I can’t find my copy, so I’ve opted to reread Sense and Sensibility instead. I am astonished that I read this book in middle school, because even as someone with a graduate degree now, I still find the 1800s-English prose to be somewhat challenging to adjust to. That being said, I do really enjoy the story and I’m SO excited to watch the Emma Thompson film adaption after I finish up the book. I know how this story ends, but it still doesn’t make it any easier to watch Marianne fall under Willoughby’s spell…sigh.

Although I still can’t seem to locate my copy of Jane Eyre, I am still hopeful that I will be able to reread that title in the coming weeks or months, as well as to finish the entire Anne of Green Gables series again before the year is over. I’d also like to start some new titles I haven’t touched yet (perhaps more Austen?), but I have a good feeling I’ll be rereading these favorites again and again for many years to come.