February Favorites

Hello, March!

The first two months of 2023 went by so fast, which is odd in that it is our least busy time of the year. I go into hibernation mode after the holidays, and a lot of our sports activities were on hiatus. We also had a few rounds of sickness go through our household right after the holidays – things that lingered or returned over and over. Ugh. I finally feel like we’re all healthy again…for now.

We started off February cheering our beloved Eagles on in Super Bowl. Even though they lost, it was a hell of a game and an even better season. We made so many family memories this year watching the Eagles. My boys are the biggest fans. Finn is obsessed with the Eagles fight song, too. So cute.

Our non-busy time is over again. Kieran’s weekly baseball practices have started up again. And we just wrapped his basketball season. He’s just the best kid. So easy, so confident, and so much fun. He doesn’t shy away from anything and throws his whole heart into whatever it is he’s doing. Love him.

We attended a Sixers game as part of a school event for Kieran. SO much fun, and we even got to go on the court after the game.

Finn had his birthday yesterday! My baby is FOUR. I can’t even. Ugh. He still is soooo shy and quiet, and only those close to him get to see his true personality. He’s so funny, goofy, and earnestly adorable. No one loves a kitchen dance party more than our Finn Thomas. It feels like he was born yesterday; my mama heart is having a hard time with him turning four. It’s hardest with your last baby – it feels like the end of the baby era for good. Sigh.

This is him right before he and I attended the preschool Snowball dance. It was the cutest thing EVER.

This month is busy but not, if that makes sense. We have the sports activities picking up steam and some fun things with family and friends scheduled. For the most part, though, March is a huge transition month for us. Life gets busy again in April. Kieran’s baseball gets into full swing, there’s Easter, spring break, and lots of “spring is coming” celebrations!

In the meantime, I have some fun things to share with you all. LOTS of discoveries in the past couple months.

1. First up, I’ve done a lot of reading lately. I tend to hunker down in the new year, and as a result, lots of books on my to-read list get checked off. I’ve talked about the Briar U Off-Campus Hockey series over and over again (I just love it so!), and I finished the last two books in the spin-off Briar U series: The Play and The Dare. Loved both. College-age sports romances but with actual character depth and believable scenarios. The hockey aspect is so fun, too. Is it Shakespear? Of course not. These books are light (for the most part) with healthy doses of romance and humor. And shameless athlete appreciation. Highly recommend that entire series.

I also read two more Meghan Quinn books: Untying the Knot and A Long Time Coming. I didn’t LOVE the former as much as I usually enjoy her books, but I absolutely loved Breaker’s story in A Long Time Coming. Love those Cane brothers. JP is my fave (the second book in the series)!

I also read the entire Cruel Prince series (3 books total) and LOVED it. It’s like ACOTAR but not quite as grandiose or fantastical; there are still real ties between the fae and modern human worlds (which made it relatable — as much as a fantasy story can be), AND the story has a lot of political themes. The romance of the story was so sad to me, but I LOVED it. It was one of those relationships that I was thinking about for days after finishing the series. It was a slow-burn situation — it takes forever for enemies to adit they love each other, and when they do, it’s swoon worthy! SO romantic. Loved it.

Now, I am reading The Serpent and the Wings of Night. I’m only about a third of the way through, and while I am enjoying it, I am hoping that the story picks up a bit soon. I feel bored at the moment. I’ve heard GREAT things about this story, so I have faith that is going to hook me soon.

I have the entire Throne of Glass series on my Kindle and ready to go; I think I will start that series next. I’ve been putting it off because it feels like such a commitment (once I start it, I won’t read anything else until the series is done), but I adore Sarah J. Mass’ other stories, so I know it needs to happen.

Like I said, LOTS of reading has occurred during these months of winter hibernation.

2. I have been on a major closet clean-out spree, and it resulted in my purchasing a new method of organizing and storing my shoes: these stackable shoe boxes. I used to have my shoes in one of those hanging racks in my closet, but it took up so much room. I opted to store these on the floor of my closet instead, and while I’m still getting used to it, I LOVE the look of these and do feel like my shoes are more organized.

3. I got out of the habit of taking fish oil supplements in 2022. I am trying to be better about it this year. We eat fish but not enough of it (I struggle to find good-quality fish around here), so I take these omega-3 fish oil capsules as a supplement. Love them. NO fishy aftertaste – they taste like lemon! They don’t upset my stomach, either (this sometimes happens with other brands). So far, so good!

4. I had a lot of new beauty discoveries these past couple months. First up, rosehip oil. Guys, this stuff is liquid GOLD. I have been using it consistently as my moisturizer (or underneath a heavier moisturizer) for about three months now, and I swear, I’ve seen the most drastic change in my skin. Not only is my skin clearer, less pigmented, but it’s SO soft and GLOWY. It glows! I swear it’s because of rose hip oil. I was getting it through Thrive Market, but Amazon sells it in larger bottles for less. I just make sure I’m getting a certified organic, cold-pressed oil with nothing added to it. HIGHLY recommend. It’s saving my winter skin.

5. Because my skin has been clearer and a lot of my melasma has cleared up, I’ve been able to wear a lot less make up. When I do wear foundation (which isn’t every day), I’ve been opting for this IT Cosmetics Nude Glow Foundation, which is lighter and glowier than I’ve been able to use with my hyperpigmentation. It goes on beautifully and looks like your skin! I love it.

6. I’ve also been loving two Rare Beauty products: this cream blush (in Nearly Mauve) and this mascara. The blush is GORGEOUS and really easy to work with, and the mascara is fantastic! I love both products so much.

7. I’ve also been experimenting with the Merit bronzer sticks. I’ve always been a powder girl, but these cream products are nice with my almost-40-year-old skin. They melt in effortlessly and give a warm but natural look. I prefer the shade Seine for my fair skin tone (Clay is nice but was almost too light for me – and I’m pretty pale!). It’s enough but not too much.

8. Another beauty buy that I am OBSESSED with (much to my surprise) are these little wrist towels for washing your face. I thought this idea sounded ridiculous when I first heard about it, but these make such a difference in the amount of water I splash/spill when cleansing my face. They completely absorb any water and prevent your sleeves/arms from getting wet. I just throw them into the washer/dryer with a load of towels after a few uses. A total unexpected game changer.

9. I have been loving this Nexxus clarifying shampoo lately. I wash my hair only once or twice a week, and while I love a nourishing shampoo and conditioner as well, this clarifying shampoo works great for me. I rub it into my scalp and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing out and continuing with another shampoo and conditioner (also both Nexxus products). It really gets my hair clean without being too stripping.

10. Last but not least, I bought this L’Ange Brush Dryer after my second (!!!) DryBar one bit the dust, and it has been wonderful. It is JUST as good as the more expensive DryBar version. I bought the 75 mm barrel size, which seems to be out of stock at the moment, but it’s amazing. Makes blowing my thick, curly hair out a breeze. Love it.

Another great couple months of new discoveries! Here’s to a great March! Xoxo!

[This post is not sponsored but contains affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and purchase the product, I receive a small kickback from the seller – at no extra cost to you! It is a small way I can earn a living doing what I love. Thank you for supporting this blog! I will always disclose this to you.]