What I Read: December 2023

What I Read: December 2023

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And just like that we are tying a bow on 2023.

I really don’t know where the time went. I know you always hear that the years go faster as you get older, but it’s so weird to experience. 2023 really did fly by.

December proved to be a strong month of reading, which included finishing up an 800+ page book that’s been on my list for a while:
– The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
– Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
– A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith
– The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
– Long Live the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl
– The Only One Left by Riley Sager
– Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

Time for the reviews!

Personal Rambling: Use the Fancy Soap

Personal Rambling: Use the Fancy Soap

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Did you get something special for Christmas this year?

Some fancy soap? A special bottle of wine? Cozy socks that you don’t want to wear because they’ll get dirty? An expensive perfume you feel like you can’t wear on a daily basis?

Use it. Daily. For no reason at all. Enjoy it. Don’t wait.

What I Read: November 2023

What I Read: November 2023

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How are we already in the last few weeks of 2023? It’s like it was January, I blinked, and now, suddenly, I’m thinking about New Year’s resolutions again.

November wasn’t my biggest month of reading in terms of number of books, but several of these books were thick! (I also put a big dent in another 800-page book that will probably be included in my December recap).

Here’s the list:
-The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
-Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
-Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
-Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
-Up To Speed by Christine Yu
-What About the Baby?: Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction by Alice McDermott

Oddly enough, I am maintaining my near-even split between non-fiction and fiction even though I consider myself largely a fiction reader.

Let’s get into the reviews!

November
What I’m Into: November 2023

What I’m Into: November 2023

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It’s that weird time of year where Halloween is behind us and everyone is in disagreement on whether to focus on Thanksgiving or Christmas. This year, it seems like Christmas is winning. Holiday jingles have already started playing over store speakers and the displays are largely red and green.

With the change in season, I wanted to update my latest obsessions. I love looking back at these posts and being reminded of past joys and interests, and I hope you enjoy them too and maybe find your own inspiration!

What I Read: October 2023

What I Read: October 2023

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I was on a roll with reading this month, finishing 9 books! I really leaned into fiction, reading only two non-fiction books:

-Hollow Heathens by Nicole Fiorina
-Rootbound by Tarah Dewitt
-Cat Tale by Craig Pittman
-A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing
-The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman
-Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
-Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
-Pumpkin Spice Scare by Molly Maple
-The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

As you can see, the book choices are really all over the place. I had two holiday-esque books, romance, fantasy, and a memoir throw in there as well.

Let’s get into the reviews!

Trader Joe's Beauty Products
The Best 3 Beauty Products Sold at Trader Joe’s

The Best 3 Beauty Products Sold at Trader Joe’s

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You all know I love Trader Joe’s beauty products (and their affordable prices!) and am continually trying out what TJ rolls out, so I wanted to do a recap with my top three favorites from over the past few years.

These are all products that I’ve bought multiple times and are currently part of my beauty routine. I hope you like them as much as I do!

What I Read: September 2023

What I Read: September 2023

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Since I’ve been on a big fantasy kick lately, I tried to force myself to read a few other books outside of that genre this month, including a horror novel in the spirit of fall.

I ended up reading six books in total for September:
-The Guest by Emma Cline
-Trail of the Lost by Andrea Lankford
-The Troop by Nick Cutter
-The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
-King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
-Bow Before the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl

Let’s get into the reviews!

Dr.G Brightening Peeling Gel
BEAUTY REVIEW: Dr.G Brightening Peeling Gel

BEAUTY REVIEW: Dr.G Brightening Peeling Gel

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I’ve been meaning to get around to this post for so long, so I’m excited to finally talk about Dr.G Brightening Peeling Gel!

I received the peeling gel as a birthday gift from my mom over a year ago and while I was initially disturbed by what felt like my skin falling off, I’m now obsessed and love how it leaves my skin feeling so clean and refreshed.

Let’s dive in!

person holding cell phone
REVIEW: Is MasterClass Worth It?

REVIEW: Is MasterClass Worth It?

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I’m a bit of a nerd.

I always have to be learning something new, whether that’s taking an actual class, listening to a new podcast, enjoying TED Talks, or reading a good book. Otherwise, I feel stagnant.

So, when MasterClass came to my attention a few years ago, I immediately wanted to try it. Especially, as they are able to get such impressive speakers that are at the top of their various fields. However, I always found the price tag to be a bit of a deterrent (about $120 for an annual membership). With so much free content out there, I had a hard time committing to a subscription.

But when I received a gift membership to MasterClass for Christmas, I dove in!

Fresh beets on a blue background
REVIEW: SuperBeets Sport Powder

REVIEW: SuperBeets Sport Powder

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This is going to sound a little weird, but I’ve had an interest in beets for a while.

I’ve heard random claims here and there that beets/beet juice can help with endurance, which as a runner, immediately grabbed my interest. However, besides occasionally adding beets to a salad, I’ve never taken any further action to study the claims or start incorporating beets into my fitness routine. That changed this weekend. (At least sort of. More on that ahead!)

I recently watched the documentary, The Game Changers on Netflix, and was reminded again about the claims surrounding beets and beet juice, so when I spotted a sample package of SuperBeets Sport at the store, it felt like a sign to give it a try.