LUXE LIFE // SMALL BUDGET - Page 7 of 18 -

What I Read: September 2022

October 4, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I’m not really sure what happened, but this was one of my slowest months of reading in a long time. For some reason, it truly felt like the month of September flew by. I remember being excited about fall almost being here and, now suddenly, I’ve flipped the calendar over to October. Time is weird.

This month’s reads included a 50-50 split of fiction and non-fiction with the list featuring:

-Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
-The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart
-The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
-The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Nuun Sport Hydration Tablet Flavor Reviews

September 27, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 3 comments

Running in the summer is tough.

Running in Florida is tough.

Running in the summer in Florida is nearly impossible.

But I’m determined to gain some running ground, so I decided to get serious about hydration and electrolytes post-runs. After trying out samples of a few different products on the market, I decided to take the leap and ordered a variety pack of Nuun Sport from Amazon featuring six flavors: Tri-Berry, Grape, Tropical, Fruit Punch, Strawberry Lemonade, and Lemon Lime.

While I find all to be drinkable, I wanted to share my rankings of the flavors (with hopes of trying out more in the future).

How to Write a Book in 6 Months

September 13, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 4 comments

I’ve wanted to write a book for… pretty much my whole life.

But I would start an idea and then just give up. One time I even got to 25,000 words and then called it quits. So, after watching several different Masterclasses on writing, I felt inspired to give it another try. However, this time, I came up with a real strategy. I was not going to just wing it. Here are the steps I followed to finally complete a 80, 416 word manuscript.

What I Read: August 2022

September 5, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

August was… an interesting month for me. I was a sick for bit. I started a new challenge that could take me the next five years to complete. I celebrated a milestone birthday. Oh, and I finished writing my first book. (Future post on that coming soon!) It also in a way marked the closing of summer and the start of fall- even though the temperatures don’t reflect that quite yet. So, to say it was a month of change would be an understatement.

In terms of books (which is what you’re really here for), I read 7 books in August featuring both non-fiction and fiction:
-Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi
-Fear Is My Homeboy by Judi Holler
-Can’t Look Away by Carla Lovering
-Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
-The It Girl by Ruth Ware
-The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

Let’s get into the reviews!

BEAUTY REVIEW: Derma E Acne Oil-Control Matte Moisturizer

August 18, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I don’t know if it’s stress or sweating a lot because it’s summer, but I have been having the worst breakouts lately. So, I did what anyone in my situation would do: I mindlessly wandered the aisles of Ulta Beauty in search of a solution.

I left with far more than what I came in for (read my post about splurging… ), but I also found a moisturizer I feel has been helping keep my breakouts in check. Enter Derma E Acne Oil-Control Matte Moisturizer.

What I Read: July 2022

July 31, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

I feel like summer has flown by.

One minute I was talking about beach reads and eagerly anticipating my vacation and now I’m already checking Bath and Body Works collection of fall candles (my favorite, Pumpkin Bonfire, is already in stock!) and considering Halloween costume ideas. Time is strange.

July proved to be a slower month of reading for me and didn’t feature any non-fiction, but it did include several newer releases.

The list includes:
-The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
-They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman
-The Power by Naomi Alderman
-One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose
-Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Let’s get into the reviews!

Feeling Guilty About A Splurge?

July 14, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

Whether it was Prime Day shopping or just a random shopping spree at Ulta Beauty (#truestory), it’s easy to feel guilty about spending money. Your brain starts asking all sorts of questions: Do I really need this? Should I get this now or wait? What if it goes on a bigger sale later? Or maybe that’s just how my brain operates.

While I can’t tell you how to spend your money or what works for your budget, there was a quote I saw recently that I’ve been unable to get out of my head when it comes to splurges. Maybe, it will help guide some of your decisions too.

What I Read: June 2022

July 2, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

Summer is here and my reads are starting to reflect that! This month’s list of reads includes Elin Hilderbrand’s latest novel and a fun YA thriller set at a summer camp:
-The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
-Running Rewired by Jay Dicharry
-White Ivy by Susie Yang
-A Gracious Neighbor by Chris Cander
-The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
-They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

Now, for the reviews!

BEAUTY REVIEW: Trader Joe’s Strawberry Lemon Sugar Scrub

June 20, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 0 Comment

With tomorrow marking the official start to summer, I’m loving all of the summer products hitting the shelves: Watermelon shaped pots for plants at the hardware store, super adorable cat kitchen towels at Kohl’s (you just have to see it…), and, of course, fun beauty products at Trader Joe’s!

I recently scooped up the Trader Joe’s Strawberry Lemon Sugar Scrub and the packaging brightens up my shower.

2022 Summer Reading Inspiration

June 10, 2022 luxelifesmallbudget Comments 1 comment

I love to read year-round, but there is something almost magical about getting lost in a good book during the summer.

Growing up, I was the kid to read every book on the required reading list for school, rather than picking just one, and would often read the books on my sister’s list as well.

After finishing school, I found myself missing that structure. With so many books in the world, it’s hard to know what to read next. But that’s when I discovered summer reading guides! It seems like almost every blogger, celebrity, etc., has a guide these days and I absolutely love it.

So, if you’re someone that’s looking to start reading more or just trying to identify the perfect book to pack for your vacation, I wanted to share a few of my favorite summer reading round-ups!