What's up Wednesday

what I'm eating...

The recipe for this DELICIOUS kale soup will be coming soon! ;) This has become a winter staple meal for me this year.

what I'm loving...

As many of y’all know, my makeup routine is pretty dang simple, except for when it comes to my eyelashes... I’m a perfectionist & know exactly what I’m looking for so sometimes it takes a while for me to get there. I heard about Flutter Habit lashes on Instagram & figured I ought to see what the hype was all about & y’all they are GOOD! You glue the lashes underneath your lash line & they stay on for 5+ days (my first set staged on for 7)!!!

I definitely do not consider myself a makeup guru by any means, so if I can apply these, anyone can! They’ve already saved me so much time in the mornings (waking up 10-15 mins later now woot woot)! I absolutely love how natural + subtle they look (these are the shorties).

I got their "collection box" which comes with five different styles with three sets in each box, meaning you get fifteen sets of lashes!

The best part of it all? I got y’all a code for 10% off!! My code is 10ALLI!

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A few weekends ago, my sister Avery came & spent the night with me & she brought her facial steamer that she got for Christmas. First I washed my face off & then got all set up. At first, I was kind of freaking out & felt like I couldn't breathe because all of the humid hair is pumping right at your face & into your nose! Avery told me to just relax & breathe & to look through social media on your phone. I got on Instagram & started looking through stories & all of a sudden it ran out -- I had let it run for the 15-20 minutes which is the longest time option! I was so relaxed & had completely forgotten about it! When I was done, I felt like my face was covered in sweat, but it was just the residue from the humid steam. I rinsed my face off with warm water & then applied my serums & moisturizer. My face has never felt so soft!! The point of a steamer is to open up your pores & it also helps to release the sebum that is trapped that can cause breakouts. Now I think I need to get one of these facial steamers for myself!!

During my two weeks of Christmas Break I hardly wore a mask & my skin is freaking the freak out about having to wear one all the time again now that I'm back in school! Like I am SO broken out. I've heard about these hydrocolloid Band-Aids & luckily Avery brought some to let me try! I'm showing a couple of pics & just a warning -- IT IS GROSS!!!!! You put these pimple patches on before you go to bed & they suck out everything in the pimple & you take it off in the morning when you wake up. I've heard that the longer you can leave them on, the better. I had a deep white head on the right side of my chin & figured I ought to try them out. I took this picture in the morning right before I took it off & you can see all of the gunk that it brought to the surface! Hehe peep my birthmark under my bottom lip!

This is what it looked like after I took it off! SO GROSS!!!!! I was shocked when I felt my face & couldn't even tell where the pimple was -- it was completely smooth! There's still a blemish mark & it's still red which is pretty easy to cover up with makeup, but it's not raised at all which is amazing! I feel like they're a much more gentle option rather than picking at them or trying to pop them yourself. I've heard that they work best on whiteheads. I will definitely be keeping some of these on hand for those pesky boogers that pop up unexpectedly!

I haven't shared about this bracelet stacked set in a really long time so I figured I would now! You get four massive stacks of bracelets for less than $30 which is amazing, especially since they feel like such good quality! The color options are black (this picture), cream, navy & peach. I'll share pictures below of each set! You can keep them together or mix & match. My wrists are pretty small so I always have trouble finding bracelets that will fit me, but these are great!

above picture details linked here: waffle knit sweater / gold large initial necklace / black bracelet stacked set / glasses

black stack...

cream stack...

navy stack...

peach stack...

About a month ago I noticed that my bananas were super ripe so I wanted to make my Mom's delicious chocolate chip banana bread BUT I didn't have a bread loaf pan. Lol adulting is hard sometimes! So I stuck them in the freezer & went on the hunt to find one. All of my kitchen cabinets in the house I'm renting have glass fronts so you can see everything. I found this one & am in LOVE! It's darling & passes as a decor piece while still being useable. I love it!!

So many of you loved my little reading nook so I thought I’d share some better pictures! I absolutely LOVE how everything is turning out! I'll also share some pictures of this space & how I decorated it for Valentine's Day below!

above picture details linked here:cream sherpa chair / leather pillow case / rectangle pillow insert / black pillow case / square pillow insert / black aztec rug / woven coasters / circle coffee table / floor lamp

Really quickly I wanted to share some of my most recent home décor finds! Some I'll keep up year round & some is just for Valentine's Day. One of the reasons I've loved having my own house (that I'm renting) is because I get to decorate it for every season! How fun is that?! I'm not a huge Valentine's Day girl, but I do like to have some simple things here & there. Sharing some of those items below & I'll link to as much as I can!

above picture details linked here:white faux plant / grey couch / cream sherpa heart pillow / pink & red hearts coffee mugs / grey & white striped boho pillow covers / pillow insert / yarn tassel / woven coaster

Okay a funny thing about this small woven basket is that it's actually designed to go in a bathroom & hold extra toilet paper, but I thought it was so cute so I got it to set out! How funny is that lol!?

above picture details linked here:book stack / woven basket

Next up are these two vases that I absolutely LOVE!!! They're such good quality for the price & I'm highly impressed! The second my Mom saw them in my house she went to order herself a set! This is the faux eucalyptus greenery that I bought to go in the vases. I unfortunately do not have a green thumb like the rest of my family members so I have to make things work. But I absolutely love how this turned out! It's exactly what I pictured!

I was needing a taller piece of furniture to go in one of the corners in one of my bedrooms (that I'm currently using as my office / blog storage area). Y'all know I love my greenery so of course I loved that this tiered plant stand gave me an excuse to get some more! ;)

above picture details linked here: tiered plant stand -- top plant, middle plant, bottom plant

I bought these beaded tassels to add to the decor in my house! I absolutely love these & the blend of twine & cream beads that it adds. They're very neutral, but are their own fun pop. Plus, the price is great!

above picture details linked here:cream sherpa chair / black pillow case / square pillow insert / black aztec rug / woven coasters / circle coffee table / floor lamp / xoxo red rectangle pillow / pink hearts coffee mug / grey mini faux plant / beaded tassels / white floral patterned plant pot

These personalized beaded bracelets are one of my favorite Christmas gifts! You can put anything on them that you want, but I thought these words were such good reminders + look super cute (& are trendy with my middle schoolers lol). I got them for both of my sisters & my Mom got them for me!

what I'm watching / reading...

I got a kindle paperwhite for Christmas & I would be lying if I said I wasn’t totally & completely obsessed with this new gadget! The last couple of years I’ve started to rediscover my love of reading, especially fiction. But let me tell ya, reading isn’t a cheap hobby! I loved the idea of holding a physical book in my hand so I was kind of nervous that I wasn’t going to like reading from a kindle, but I actually really do! One of the main things I noticed is that I easily got lost in it — in the stories & the characters. Also, I have baby hands & the kindle is way more comfortable & easy to hold than a physical book. Of course I had to get a cute case / cover because duh. & this one is SO STINKING CUTE!!! The kindle automatically "wakes up" when you open the front flap which is just kinda cool.

what I'm dreading vs. what I'm excited about...

Last week I started my final semester of grad school! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, praise Jesus!!! My school counseling grad program is a minimum of two years including a full load of classes each summer. It's been a heckuva lot of work, but so incredibly worth it! I am dreading the amount of work that this last full load will take, but beyond excited to finally have the title & to be done with school!

above picture details linked here:Erin Condren daily reminder academic planner / favorite pen set / faux plant

what I'm wearing...

Pink Lily Boutique...

I love how different & unique this top is! It's from the Pink Lily Boutique. I've heard lots of great things about that boutique so I wanted to try out a couple different pieces to see what my true thoughts were about it. I will say that it is on the more expensive side -- definitely not Walmart prices, which is kind of a bummer. BUT they are cute as all get out! All three of the sweaters I got were on major sale so I was able to get a great deal on them. A lot of the pieces looked pretty oversized to me so I went with a small for this one & I'm glad I did. I would say that for the most part it fits true to size, but does have a bit of a boxier fit. The material is very thick & soft & you can tell it's good quality! I like this one for the Valentine's Day season because it has little pops of other color throughout & the criss cross pattern sets it apart from other sweaters.

Sharing a closer look at the pattern & color scheme here!

above picture details linked here:Pink Lily criss cross sweater / cognac mules / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / dainty gold mini coin necklace / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Who doesn't need more neutral turtleneck sweater options in your closet? Probably me lol. This sweater is a really pretty apricot / grey / tan color. It's pretty soft, but thinner than I had expected which is actually kind of nice because I won't get too hot at school. It fits oversized -- I'm wearing a small & it is legging friendly, but looks great front-tucked into jeans as well.

above picture details linked here:Pink Lily oversized turtleneck sweater / cognac mules / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

This striped popcorn sweater is by far my favorite piece out of all three! I love popcorn material & how it adds texture & dimension to your outfit. Luckily, this one is super soft (sometimes they can feel kind of itchy I think)! This is a small & the sleeves are a little bit long, but they cuff & create a very subtle balloon sleeve. I love this color scheme & it's so different from what I have in my closet!

above picture details linked here:Pink Lily striped popcorn sweater / dainty gold mini coin necklace / cognac mules / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Etsy...

As I was looking for some Valentine's Day school shirts on Etsy, the majority of them where grade specific, for example: "first grade has my heart". As a school counselor, I don't have or teach a specific grade -- I work with all grades in the middle school. So when I found this one I was pumped! It's printed on a Bella Canvas t-shirt which is so incredibly soft + fits really well. You're able to choose what color of shirt + what color of writing you want & I thought this one was darling!

above picture details linked here:"my students stole my heart" t-shirt / black grandpa cardigan / dark wash jeans / dainty gold mini coin necklace / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Here is another one that's pretty generalized but still oh so cute! A whole bunch of hearts make up an apple, which is kind of like the mascot of all teachers lol. Again, it's printed on a Bella Canvas t-shirt & you can choose the color.

above picture details linked here:apple hearts t-shirt / cognac mules / black grandpa cardigan / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / dainty gold mini coin necklace / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Absolutely loving this super cute retro Valentine's t-shirt! Obviously this one isn't as geared towards teachers or school, but I still thought it was so cute & I had to share! Again, it's on a super soft Bella Canvas t-shirt & this is the "marble" color.

above picture details linked here:retro "be mine Valentine" t-shirt / light wash jeans / black grandpa cardigan / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / tiered plant stand -- top plant, middle plant, bottom plant / black marble hair clip / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Amazon...

I saw this grey fuzzy tunic sweatshirt & knew I needed to try it. My literal ONLY complaint about this is that it was super staticky! Like even after I took it off, I was super staticky -- like my whole body. It's very soft & actually pretty thin so it's perfect for layering. It's a tunic fit so it's longer & definitely offers booty coverage. I'm wearing a small here & would say that it fits true to size, considering the tunic length. It comes in a few other color options as well!

above picture details linked here:grey fuzzy tunic sweatshirt / glasses / black jeans / grey slip on shoes / pink fingernail polish (shade is called “envelope please”) / personalized beaded bracelets / tan leather apple watch band / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / tiered plant stand — top plant, middle plant, bottom plant / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

I've actually seen this sweatshirt shared a lot of other times by other bloggers & influencers. It comes in a whole bunch of other prints including some Christmas options which I'll have to keep in mind for next year. The inside is super soft & fits true to size. I thought the little red heart patches on the elbows were SO cute!! I love that this is a pretty casual option.

above picture details linked here:grey + red hearts sweatshirt / Steve Madden black faux fur mules / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / dainty gold mini coin necklace / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

This long sleeve is so hideous it's cute lol! I cracked up when I first put it on because it truly looked like Valentine's Day threw up on me! I'm wearing a small & would say it fits a little bit oversized? The sleeves & body are just a little bit flowy, but both the hem line & the sleeves cuff so it doesn't look huge. It's super soft & surprisingly not see through at all! I added my favorite black puffer vest just to tone it down a little & I love it!

above picture details linked here:assorted red hearts long sleeve / black puffer vest / Steve Madden black faux fur mules / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / dainty gold mini coin necklace / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Walmart...

This cursive love sweatshirt is from Walmart & I really like it because it’s just a regular Gildan brand sweatshirt so I knew exactly how it would fit before I even got it. This one is a for sure classic that I’ll be able to wear every single year!

above picture details linked here:red love sweatshirt / glasses / black jeans / grey slip on shoes / pink fingernail polish (shade is called “envelope please”) / personalized beaded bracelets / tan leather apple watch band / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / tiered plant stand — top plant, middle plant, bottom plant / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

I'm always on the lookout for comfy pieces that can be dressed up or down & this top is perfect! I love that I can throw it on with leggings, or jeans for a game day at school! It has a really thick cowlneck, I rolled mine twice -- the drawstrings are functional. It has front pockets, they don't connect, but they're very deep which is nice. I chose this black color that has white speckles all over it. It almost looks like fuzzies, but on purpose lol. One thing that's unique about this top is that the hemline & cuffs are a plain black material so it looks like you're layering it which is cute! I'm wearing a medium here & would say it fits mostly true to size, maybe a little bit slim. The back of the sweatshirt is a little bit longer than the front so you're guaranteed to have booty coverage!

above picture details linked here:black speckled cowlneck sweatshirt / glasses / black jeans / grey slip on shoes / pink fingernail polish (shade is called “envelope please”) / personalized beaded bracelets / tan leather apple watch band / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / tiered plant stand — top plant, middle plant, bottom plant / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

My Mom got me this mustard Walmart crewneck for Christmas because she knew how much I was wanting it! SO comfy & great quality! It’s pretty thin but that makes it perfect for layering. This one is a small. I got a medium in the orange one that I got first because I wanted it to for sure be legging-friendly & cover my bottom. I tried on my mom’s small & realized that it still covers my booty & has some extra room in the torso so that's the size I'm going with from now on. Such a great staple piece for only $12! Comes in tons of other colors + patterns as well.

above picture details linked here:black + white striped layering tank / cream slippers / seamless black leggings / mustard crewneck / lip color (shade is called "girl power") / purple nail polish (shade is "#3106") / personalized beaded bracelets / dainty gold mini coin necklace / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Who doesn't love a good quarter zip? I'm a big fan of them & crewnecks because I don't like how my hair lays on sweatshirts that have hoods -- it just creates a weird bump almost like a ponytail bump, so I always go with these instead! This one is super soft, but I would say it fits a little small. This is a medium & it definitely doesn't fit like one. I would suggest sizing up one to two sizes if you're wanting a more oversized fit with booty coverage.

above picture details linked here:pink + purple tie dye quarter zip / cream slippers / seamless black leggings / thin black scrunchie / lip color (shade is called "girl power") / purple nail polish (shade is "#3106") / personalized beaded bracelets / dainty gold mini coin necklace / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Y'all know how much I love my lounge sets lol especially when they come together!! This super cute dark leopard set is from Walmart. I had heard that the top was somewhat cropped, so I went with a medium for both. The pants are a bit long so I had to roll them a couple of times which I think looks fine. & the top works great in a medium for me! The material is definitely like sweatshirt material which makes it feel like you could wear it out running groceries or errands or whatever!

above picture details linked here:dark grey leopard lounge set / cream slippers / thin black scrunchie / lip color (shade is called "girl power") / purple nail polish (shade is "#3106") / personalized beaded bracelets / dainty gold mini coin necklace / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

I'm always on the lookout for neutral basic tops that are perfect for layering so I made sure to snag this one from Walmart when I saw it. It has a really cute speckled look which I love because it sets it apart from other tops & it's a waffle knit material. It's called a tunic for a reason though lol this is a size medium & I am basically swimming in it! I'd recommend sizing down since it fits so oversized, it'll still give you great booty coverage. It's pretty thin which means it's perfect for layering & will transition super well into spring! It does come in a few other color options as well.

above picture details linked here:white speckled waffle knit tunic / Steve Madden black faux fur mules / seamless black leggings / thin black scrunchie / lip color (shade is called "girl power") / purple nail polish (shade is "#3106") / personalized beaded bracelets / dainty gold mini coin necklace / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

How darling is this corduroy jumper?! The deep rust color mixed with the corduroy material screams fall & winter to me. I absolutely love it! I'm wearing a small because I had heard that it was kind of stretchy & it is! I had heard that it was a very boxy fit so that's part of why I went with a small as well.

Sharing a more close up picture below so you can see the material better.

above picture details linked here:orange corduroy jumper / black & white striped turtleneck / light suede booties / white apple watch band / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / dainty gold mini coin necklace / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

I love simple neutral sweaters because they are absolutely timeless. This symmetry sweater is great! It has a very subtle speckling detailing which is really cute. I love the exposed seamline on the collar, sleeves, & down the middle of the sweater. This one is the grey color & is a size medium & I would say it fits fairly true to size.

above picture details linked here:grey speckled symmetry sweater / Steve Madden black faux fur mules / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / dainty gold mini coin necklace / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

This is actually that exact same sweater, but in cream & in XS! It was for my Mom, but I decided to try it on myself. I definitely don't feel like it fits like an XS because it fits me comfortably! It was also way too big on my Mom. For some reason I just don't feel like the sizing is that much different. Really it was just in the length of the two tops.

above picture details linked here:cream speckled symmetry sweater / Steve Madden black faux fur mules / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / dainty gold mini coin necklace / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Walmart is killing the game with these lightly speckled sweaters! I absolutely love it! This turtleneck is a really deep rust or red color with tiny subtle speckles of cream & I love those little pops. It's not the softest sweater I've ever felt, but it's definitely not itchy.

above picture details linked here:red speckled turtleneck sweater / light suede booties / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

It fits a bit oversized, this is a small & it works great with leggings. Sharing a picture of it styled with leggings below.

above picture details linked here:red speckled turtleneck sweater / black seamless leggings / tan suede Steve Madden mules / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Now this cream knitted sweater is probably my favorite find out of all of them. I absolutely love all of the different knitted patterns & detailing that this sweater has. This is a medium & I would say it fits pretty true to size. I like for my sweaters to be a little bit big on me, just a personal preference. The quality & price is amazing, especially since it's a Walmart sweater.

above picture details linked here:cream knitted sweater / light suede booties / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

This is actually that same sweater, but in deep green (obviously) & a size XS instead.

above picture details linked here:deep green knitted sweater / light suede booties / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / tan leather apple watch band / personalized beaded bracelets / blue fingernail polish (shade is called “prim & proper”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Would you believe me if I told you that this sweater is actually a women's plus? It's a size 0X but I don't think it fits like one at all! Probably more like a large. It honestly feels like the exact same material as my barefoot dreams blanket so you know I want to live in this lol. Front-tucking it with jeans helps to dress it up a bit + takes care of the length.

above picture details linked here:thick pink leopard sweater / personalized beaded bracelets / Steve Madden black faux fur mules / tan leather apple watch band / dainty gold mini coin necklace / dark wash jeans / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

But it looks darling untucked & with leggings!

above picture details linked here:thick pink leopard sweater / personalized beaded bracelets / Steve Madden black faux fur mules / black seamless leggings / tan leather apple watch band / dainty gold mini coin necklace / lip color (shade is called “girl power”) / favorite comfy padded bra / wooden jewelry wall hanging / makeup mirror / makeup organizer / white marble loopy phone case (get 10% off using code smalltown10!)

Y'all when I say this sweater is soft, I mean it is S O F T ! I'm wearing a medium here because it looked almost cropped on the website, but I don't think that's really the case. The neck is pretty soft & not tight at all, even though it does lay right against your neck. This sweater is fairly thin so it's perfect for layering & will be great as we head into spring.