LUXE LIFE // SMALL BUDGET -

What I Read: January 2025

February 4, 2025 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I don’t know why, but January always seems to drag on forever. Is it the return to routine after the disruption of the holidays? Is it the cold and gloomy weather? Whatever the reason, I found books to be a big comfort this month.

January’s reads included:
-The September House by Carissa Orlando
-Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun
-Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
-All In by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene
-Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Clinton

Let’s get into the reviews!

A Year Without Clothing Shopping: My No-Buy Year

January 21, 2025 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

Given the state of the world lately (*gestures vaguely toward everything*), I’ve been giving thought to how I can make a personal difference without feeling completely overwhelmed.

It’s with this mindset that I recently watched Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy on Netflix. While I knew consumerism (especially surrounding the fashion industry) was a big problem, this documentary brought attention to some horrible truths.

YEAR IN REVIEW: A Breakdown of My 2024 Reads

January 11, 2025 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I always get so excited about this post!

I love getting the chance to reflect on my favorite reads for the year and the chance to dive into all of the data. Now that I’ve been tracking my reading for a couple of years, there’s even more to look at and compare.

In 2024, I read a total of 86 books!!! I really had no idea I was reading so much. Usually, I’m in the mid to upper 60s range. (For comparison, I read 79 books in 2023, 68 books in 2022, 72 books in 2021, and 65 books in 2020.)

Let’s get into the specifics!

What I Read: December 2024

January 4, 2025 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

Somehow, 2024 has already come to an end.

I don’t know if it’s getting older or what, but I swear each year passes faster and faster. And each year feels slightly crazier…

But the end of the year chaos didn’t slow down my reading. December’s reads included mostly fantasy:
-Caraval by Stephanie Garber
-A Court This Cruel and Lovely by Stacia Stark
-Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco
-The Chain by Adrian McKinty
-Fate Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
-We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Let’s get into the reviews!

Review: Garmin Coach 5K Training Plan

December 27, 2024 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

Don’t have money for a personal running coach? Me either.

But as a Garmin user (I have the Forerunner 245), I realized I already have access to a number of free training plans in the Garmin Connect app. While I was initially skeptical of how well the plans would work for my goals, I was happy I stuck it out for a 17 week plan!

What I Read: November 2024

December 10, 2024 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I can’t believe 2024 is already almost over. Yet, I find myself sitting here next to my Christmas tree and thinking about new year’s resolutions. I feel like this fall has been an absolute whirlwind and I’m not sure exactly why. Does anyone else feel this way or is this just a me thing? Regardless of this weird time warp that I’m in, I continued to pick up books and made it through some long ones! One was 608 pages…

What I Read: September & October 2024

October 29, 2024 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 2 comments

Does anyone else feel like life is non-stop lately?

Both September and October have been an absolute whirlwind and with the holidays fast approaching, I’m not sure I’ll have time to catch my breath. But that’s clearly not stopping me from picking up a book…

I read 12 books over the course of September and October:
-The Other Woman by Sandie Jones
-The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
-The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen
-The Spite House by Johnny Compton
-The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart
-Bride by Ali Hazelwood
-Nobody Wants Your Sh*t by Messie Condo
-Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White
-The Unraveling by Vi Keeland
-The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

As you can see, fiction has my attention lately, and I’ve been continuing quite a few series.

Let’s get into the reviews!

Personal Ramblings: Reaching a Running Goal

September 29, 2024 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

Running is so strange.

I wouldn’t say I like it, but I like having done it and I like having goals to reach for.

But I’ve realized, I’m totally guilty of beating myself up when I don’t reach a goal, but barely pause when I do reach a goal. It’s just a sudden switch to ‘now what’?

I’m trying to work through this tendency, so I wanted to share how I’m celebrating and acknowledging a big goal I’ve been working toward for a few years in case it helps change your mindset too.

What I Read: August 2024

September 8, 2024 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

I’m resisting the urge to start this post off with lyrics from Taylor Swift’s ‘August’, but I do feel like this month really slipped away.

On one hand, I’m sad that the summer vibes are ending, but on the other, I can’t wait for fall. (Yes, I have already pulled out my Halloween decorations and have been burning the fall candles!)

Despite how fast the month seemed to go, I did get in quite a bit of reading:
-Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell
-The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner
-Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
-In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
-Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
-The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
-The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
-Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
-The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

Let’s get into the reviews!

REVIEW: Caroline Girvan’s IRON Series

August 24, 2024 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I did it!

After years of looking at Caroline Girvan’s different YouTube fitness series, I finally picked one and committed.

I chose the IRON Series as my focus was on building strength, rather than cardio, and it seemed like a good beginner program that would allow me to focus on good form rather than speed.