Spring is springing in Nashville. It hasn’t quite sprung, but I’m definitely getting the feeling that winter is coming to a close and warmer days are ahead. To honor the changing of the seasons, I wanted to share a little wrap up of the things I’ve been loving over the last few months. Let’s get started!
one | brush hair dryer
I bought this hair dryer back in January, and it has truly changed my life. I’ve never known how to blow dry my hair, and this brush makes it so easy. It only takes about 15 minutes. All I have to do after I’m done drying my hair now is run my straightener over it a few times, and I am good to go for the day. I go almost a full week without having to wash my hair now. This is life changing.
two | amazon sweater
I have recently become a big fan of Amazon fashion. I am going to blame TikTok. I try to shop locally or in person to support local business, but purse strings are a little tighter these days, and I have very little self-control when I see something cute online. This sweater from Amazon (I have it in white) is one of my favorite sweaters. I wear it at least twice a week. It’s super cozy and works with so many outfits.
three | storygraph
I recently created a Storygraph account to track my reading goals, and I am obsessed. I also use Goodreads (because I am nothing if not thorough), but I also wanted to support a smaller business. I love Storygraph because, not only can you track your reading, but it also recommends books you might like based on what you have been reading and enjoying. It’s so much more helpful than just picking up the popular books I’ve been seeing all over Booktok or Booksta.
four | my planner
I am obsessed with my planner. I stopped using a planner almost completely last year with the pandemic, but I knew I had a lot of goals I wanted to accomplish this year, so I splurged on a more expensive planner than I normally would for 2021. And let me tell you, it has been worth it. I absolutely love my planner. My favorite thing about Golden Coil planners is that you can almost completely customize it. It’s almost like having a bullet journal without needing the necessary artistic skills.
five | madewell slippers
My future sister-in-law gifted me some fuzzy slippers from Madewell (similar to what is linked), and I am in love with them. I keep them at my boyfriend’s apartment, and it completely elevates my Sunday mornings. Such a small thing, but it makes a world of difference.
six | at-home workouts (sydney cummings)
I started doing at-home workouts in January, and I have found a trainer that I absolutely love. All of her workouts are free on Youtube, and there are so many good options. My roommate has been using her videos to train for almost (maybe over) a year now, and I can see why. With highly curated video playlists and a new video posted every day, there is no lack of choice in my workouts.
seven | budgeting hack (waiting to buy myself anything fun until the end of the month)
I started a new budgeting “hack” this year, and it has totally changed the game for me. I have a bit of a spending problem sometimes. As I mentioned before, I have no self-control when it comes to seeing something I like. This would cause me to sometimes go over budget without even meaning to. Now, I add anything I might want to purchase to a note in my phone, and, at the end of the month, if I haven’t gone over budget, I get to buy myself presents! This ensures that I stick to my budget, and at the end of the month, I get to celebrate myself and sticking to my goals!
eight | it ends with us
This was probably my favorite book from the first three months of 2021. Lilly didn’t have an easy childhood. From saving homeless boys from themselves to protecting her mother from her abusive father, she didn’t really get to be a kid. But, she moves to Boston once she graduates from college, and life couldn’t be better. She opens her own flower shop, falls in love with a neurosurgeon, and makes an amazing new best friend. Everything seems perfect, but one day, just 15 seconds, changes everything. When the boy from her past comes back into her life, Lilly doesn’t know what she should do. A beautiful story about love, loss, and second chances, Colleen Hoover is sure to drag you between the covers and leave you wanting more.
nine | church
I don’t talk about religion a lot, but give me just a few sentences, please. I recently got back into my faith, and I have been loving my daily ritual of listening to a podcast (less than 15 minutes) analyzing the Bible, and I’ve been watching service online almost every Sunday. I love including faith as part of my daily and weekly routines, and it definitely puts me in the right headspace on most days.
ten | today’s good things
I have been chronicling “today’s good things” on Instagram for almost a year now. I don’t do every day, but I try to do most. It’s a great reminder to be thankful for all the little things that make up a good day. I love the practice of noting my gratitudes, and by framing it as “today’s good things” it takes the pressure off. I’ve noticed a total shift in my attitude and approach to the day when I know I have to find some good things from it.
Happy adventuring,
Kimberly
