Alexa and I revived our monthly hangouts! Since June 2020, we've been able to consistently set aside one Saturday a month to spend time together but then with the holidays, work, and just life in general we inadvertently put them on pause. Spending this past Saturday with her in New Jersey (she took the bus to me!) made me realize how much I had missed these outings.
We started the day off with breakfast at Sugar Tree Cafe. I had never been before but once I saw pictures online, it seemed like our kind of spot and it totally was. We loved the aesthetic of the interior and thought their waffles and cinnamon toast dishes were delicious. Plus their large mugs of coffee really hit the spot since we both had to wake up fairly early.
From there, we headed to Short Hills Mall (without traffic, it's a little under a 30 min drive from me) and our main reason for going was so Alexa could see Indigo Books (and find out why I loved the store so much). We had a field day in there! It was only my second time visiting but I still found myself being super impressed by the amount of books they had and all the complementary products they sell in store (stationery, puzzles, candles and home goods, backpacks, pajamas, Little Words Project bracelets, and more!). If you're ever in Jersey and you love books, I highly recommend going.
And since we were at the mall anyway, we ended up walking around a bit too, which was nice. We went inside Hermes (where I may have walked out with something...) and Dior (where we went to "visit" the Dior book tote for the third time and I feel absolutely sure this will be my next bag purchase; Alexa approves!).
After the mall, it seemed like a good time to grab a snack so we went to Kubo Coffee & Creamery, which is my favorite local Filipino-owned business that sells boba, coffee and ice cream. We got the Ube Mochi Taiyaki and it was honestly better than Taiyaki NYC (yes, we said it!).
Then to cap off the day, we decided we needed more books so we went to the Barnes & Noble by me and again -- very impressed by the selection and the huge manga wall. We browsed almost every aisle and walked out with three items each. At that point, we went back to my apartment to take a short break and drink coffee before Alexa caught the next bus home (note the last photo above which I took while waiting at the bus stop with her; we have matching kumare bracelets!).
It was just the loveliest day spent in conversation and indulging in all the things we love! I can't wait until our next hangout.
Between going to Woodbury Commons Outlet with Carina and planning an upcoming trip with her, I've been doing quite a bit of shopping so I'm excited share what I'm currently obsessed with!
Hermes Jumbo bracelet (in Etoupe, gold hardware) | Now that I have my Chanel bag, my next bucket list bag is something from Hermes (which will hopefully happen within the next few years). A sales associate I met in store gave me some advice about how buying things from the brand helps you get your wishlist bags so I decided to do some perusing and found the jumbo bracelet! It's one of their more affordable pieces and I've actually worn is every day. I love how it looks. (For reference, I got a size T1)
Petite LC Lauren Conrad Stretch High-Waisted Super Skinny Jeans | My new holy grail jeans! I mentioned them on my master list but I wanted to bring them up again because I recently ordered 3 more (one in each color) which brings me to a grand total of 5 pairs. I feel good in them, the fit is amazing, and best of all, I don't need to hem them.
Tory Burch Minnie Travel Flats (in Navy) | I've been wanting to buy a pair of these again for the longest time so when I saw these at the outlet for 40% off, it seemed like a sign. I bought my very first pair 10+ years ago and they hurt my feet so badly. But I was wrongly advised to pick a size that was exact and even a tiny bit snug because he said they would stretch out. My feet expand in the summer and/or when I'm walking a lot (which is every time I'm in the city) so that was the wrong advice to give me and I just didn't know any better back then. This time, I went a half size up. I'm a true 6.5 so I got a 7 and they're perfect.
GUCCI Wool Silk Monogram Fringe Scarf Brown | Another outlet purchase! I'd been wanting a monogram scarf and while I was originally looking at Louis Vuitton, when I saw this at Gucci, I knew I had to buy it. It's very neutral and keeps me warm without being too heavy. It's been less than a month and it's gotten a ton of use already.
Longchamp Le Pliage backpack | My last outlet purchase on this list! I've been thinking about this backpack ever since I gave it to Carina as a Christmas gift (when we went to the outlets last summer, she mentioned wanting it). It's so cute! The color I got is out of season which is why it was on sale but it's pretty close to the image I included above.
Summersalt The Ruffle Oasis | I had been wanting to try Summersalt swimsuits for years and I had been eyeing this one in particular. Now that I have a trip planned that requires bathing suits, I ordered both this and the Sidestroke. I've very happy with both but the Ruffle Oasis is definitely my fave!
Aritzia Babaton Carter Blouse (in Navy) | It's such a simple yet elegant top. I usually wear it with jeans and flats (sometimes with a cardigan depending on the weather) and I feel SO put together. In fact, I'm considering getting it in mauve, white and/or black as well. (I probably should limit myself to only one more, right?)
Express Ruffle Chiffon Sleeve Top (in dark purple) | Even though purple is my favorite color, I tend to gravitate towards lavender and mauve, and not this eggplant shade. But I loved how the body of this top was a simple tee and the pleated, ruffle details of the sleeves so I decided to give it a shot (I saw it in-store). I ended up loving how it looked on me. It comes in a bunch of different colors but I love this one best!
***
Have you bought anything lately that you're obsessed with?
pub 4/5/22 by Delacorte Press • Young Adult - Contemporary Fiction • Received from pub for review⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars | Reese Camden is hoping that her summer marketing internship at her dream job Friends of Flavor, a popular cooking channel in Seattle, will eventually turn into job in the fall. Her main competition though is Benny Beneventi, who is a charming and very cute culinary intern. When they're thrown together for a video shoot, it goes viral and everyone on the internet is shipping them so naturally their bosses decide to make this a regular segment where they compete onscreen over making dishes. Reese doesn't want to be distracted by a guy but as they spend more time together on and off the camera, it's hard for Reese (and the readers!) to ignore the obvious chemistry between them. The highlight of the story was definitely the adorable progression of their relationship and Benny is just a sweetheart. But the book actually had an unexpected but very honest theme running throughout the entire book when it comes to double standards at the workplace, on the internet, and in high school. Reese's experiences and her commentary will be relatable to a lot of young women and that was another aspect of the book that I thought was done extremely well. But something was missing for me overall and I don't think I can even pinpoint what could've been done differently. I just know that while I liked the book and thought it was cute and smart, I didn't feel totally invested or connected to the characters.
pub 5/10/22 by HarperTeen • Young Adult - Contemporary Romance • Received from pub for review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars | Some Mistakes Were Made is one of my favorite books of 2022 and one of the best young adult (bordering on new adult) books I've read in a really long time. I thought about it for days after finishing and re-read certain parts over and over again. To be honest though, I don't know if this will be for everyone but it was 100% my cup of tea. Messy and complicated relationships, flawed characters, angsty, intense first loves, steamy—this was my jam. It's told from Ellis' perspective but it's very much the story of Ellis and Easton, who have been friends since childhood and whose relationship went through some growing pains (for obvious reasons) as they got older. But then something happens that forces Ellis to move halfway across the country and she decides to cut ties with Easton completely. When Easton's mom invites her back home for a celebration a year later, it's time for Ellis to confront her past and what she wants in her future. The book alternates between the present and past so we can see the rich history that exists between these two and what led to the present, which is fraught with tension and a clearly unfinished love story. The way this author wrote the book gave me so many feelings and at times, I felt my heart ache for these two. The alternating timelines were the perfect way to tell Ellis and Easton's story and I was completely wrapped up in it from the first page until the last.
Here are some non-bookish articles I really liked this past month and my latest loves.
Links
1 / Thank you Apartment Therapy for sharing "The 5 Things Nobody Tells You About Buying a Home as a Single Woman." (Currently debating if it would be so bad to rent forever.)
2 / TheEverygirl put together a list of travel essentials their team swears by and I already have 16 items on this list (and nearly all the same brands too) so I feel pretty confident saying these are some solid recommendations.
3 / Has anyone else binged Inventing Anna on Netflix? I thought it was SO good but I definitely went down a rabbit hole with looking up articles. Here's the article the show as based on, one from Neff Davis' point-of-view, and another from Rachel Williams.
4 / I don't watch award shows live but I love seeing what everyone wears. Vogue put together "The 51 Best Oscars Red Carpet Dresses of All Time" and it was fun to see which iconic dresses I remembered and of course, agreed with! Michelle Williams was my favorite on the list.
5 / I've been feeling self-conscious about my weight gain since the pandemic started and I think that's a feeling many of us are dealing with. On HuffPost, Emily McCombs shared "I Gained 70 Pounds During COVID. Here's What Happened On My First Day Back In The Office" and there's so much to relate to.
6 / Sophia Bush, Joy Lenz, and Hilarie Burton reunited on-screen for Good Sam (which I am watching!) and they did an interview talking about what that experience was like.
7 / Apparently there are companies in the U.S. testing a 4-day workweek and I just want how I can convince my job to participate in this.
Loves
2 / I've become much better at doing my winged eyeliner but I still mess up and this makeup remover pen has been perfect for that.
3 / Face sunscreen is an essential part of my morning routine but I wanted something lighter yet just as effective. And that's where Coola comes in! I've been using Classic Face Organic Sunscreen Mist SPF 50 for a little over a week now and it's been great. It's actually helped with keeping my face matte longer too!
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Do you have any links or loves to share?
Would love to hear about them!
Do you have any links or loves to share?
Would love to hear about them!
Life lately
How are we in April already? The last two months have been a bit of a whirlwind. I went back to the office but still on a hybrid schedule that now consists of three days in the office and two at home. It's an adjustment! I wish it was three days at home and two in the office but honestly it hasn't been that bad. I like seeing my coworkers in person but my body just isn't used to having to wake up that early so often. I'll get there though!
Then on the personal side of things, I'm still slowly townhouse and condo hunting. I'm really liking my new realtor and he doesn't seem to mind that I haven't felt the urge to bid on anything yet. That said, I do feel a bit discouraged. There's a part of me that wonders if I should just rent forever to be honest. Other than that, I've been hanging out with friends and embracing more normalcy as I went to my first concert and Broadway show in February since the pandemic started and am now planning a possible trip (like I'd have to actually get on a plane) for May. Keeping my fingers crossed that it happens and that I have better luck with townhouse hunting and more.
Feb-Mar Superlatives
On the blog
Book Reviews
|
Features
Life Lately / Personal |
One-sentence reviews
These are books (physical + ebooks) from my TBR or the library aka the non-review books.
- House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2) by Sarah J. Maas (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): A solid follow-up in this series and one that left me desperately wanting for more and as always, continually impressed with SJM's storytelling skills.
- The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas (⭐⭐⭐💫): While it was enjoyable, it didn't quite live up to the hype for me and in my opinion would've benefited from a more streamlined plot and less wishy-washy heroine.
- To Selena, With Love by Chris Perez (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): A must read for Selena Quintanilla fans that not only gives an intimate behind the scenes look at her life but also at the loving relationship between her and Chris.
- Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Seriously the only author I repeatedly enjoy novels written in verse from.
- Friends from Home by Lauryn Chamberlain (⭐⭐⭐): I'm always drawn to friendship books and I liked it enough at the time, it's ultimately pretty forgettable.
- The Iron Sword (The Iron Fey: Evenfall, #2) by Julie Kagawa (⭐⭐⭐⭐): While this new arc isn't necessarily needed, I loved this installment told through Ash's POV which reminded me of why he is one of my OG book boyfriends.
- Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern, #1) by Anne McCaffrey (⭐): I love the Harper Hall trilogy so I was hoping to finally read the Dragonriders of Pern series but this first book hasn't aged well at all and has put me off completely from reading the rest.
- Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour (⭐⭐⭐💫): The author is actually a former coworker of mine and the first half of the book gave me major flashbacks to the start-up we used to work at (which I thought was the strongest part of the book) but the second half veered into multiple directions that didn't totally work for me.
- The Maid by Nita Prose (⭐⭐⭐⭐): I typically don't read mysteries but this one is totally deserving of the praise it's been getting.
- The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash, #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (⭐⭐⭐💫): Even though this was my least favorite installment in the series and I didn't agree with all the decisions the author made with its characters, I still liked it and felt the last 25% of the book was really strong.
- This Close to Okay Leesa Smith-Cross (⭐⭐): I really wanted to love this but I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough with the plot and I just could not connect with the story or its characters.
- Running Wild (Wild, #3) by K.A. Tucker (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Marie's book really exceeded my expectations and reminded me of why I love the Wild world and characters K.A. Tucker created so much (I've been skimming every book to reread my favorite parts ever since finishing this one!)
***
How's your month been?
pub 3/8/22 by St. Martin's Griffin • Women's Fiction - Romance • Received from pub for review⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars | Of the Beck Sisters series, I enjoyed The Suite Spot the most. And not just because the heroine has the same name as me (although, it doesn't hurt!). Rachel is raising a young daughter on her own since her ex isn't exactly a doting father, but luckily she has her mom to support her and help put a roof over their heads. When she loses her job as a manager at a luxury hotel in Miami Beach, it feels like the final straw. And it's what ultimately pushes her to take a chance with a management position at a brewery hotel in Kelleys Island, a small town in Lake Erie. She moves cross country with her daughter and what she finds there is a hotel that's barely built and its handsome yet brooding owner Mason is in dire need of someone who can figure out the hospitality side of the house. She approaches the challenge head-on and that's a big reason why I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed seeing the way she thought about the hotel and how she brought it to life. I also enjoyed seeing her simply create a life for herself for the first time as she gets to know the tight-knit community in this quaint town. And naturally, I enjoyed the romance. It's a bit of a slow burn (but not too slow) as both Rachel and Mason each have internal struggles they're dealing with, which made the organic evolution of their relationship that much more satisfying. So if you're looking for a contemporary romance with more of an emotional core, this is worth giving a shot.
pub 3/15/22 by Forever • Adult Contemporary Romance • Received from pub for review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars | In A New York Minute is one of my favorite books this year! It's wholesome, fun, charming, and reminds me of good old-fashioned rom-coms, except there's social media involved. I went into it with pretty high expectations and it not only met them, but exceeded them as well. When Franny Doyle heads home after being laid off, the last thing she expects is to have the subway doors rip her silk dress completely and then to be saved by a handsome stranger (later known as Hayes Montgomery III) who graciously gives her his Gucci (!) suit jacket and immediately walks away after. But to add insult to injury, a video of their (not-so) meet-cute is posted online and goes viral. Suddenly all of New York is shipping them and Franny and Hayes could not be more ill-suited for one another. Or.. so they thought. I love a good opposites-attract romance and Kate Spencer portrayed this perfectly. I was thoroughly invested as Franny and Hayes went from very awkward, to finding they enjoy each other's company, and slowly making their way to the part that made me swoon and smile. But the book doesn't just focus on romance. Franny's group of best friends is just as wonderfully portrayed. They're so present as Franny deals with the ups-and-downs of this new thing with Hayes, and more. It's also very much about how they are each finding their footing as individuals and what they want to do next. This was just an all-around amazing book and I cannot recommend it enough.
It's been a while since I've shared a playlist but since this past Sunday was the first day of Spring, it felt like a good time to share the songs I've had on repeat these days. They don't necessarily make think of Spring but they certainly do put me in a good mood, which is the same affect warmer weather has on me. So without further ado, here's the playlist!
"Brooklyn" - Patrick Droney
Yes, I am still listening to this song. I recently saw him live which put this back on my "in constant rotation" list.
"You're All that I Need to Get By" - Emilia Jones, CODA soundtrack
I watched CODA last week and not only was it one of the best movies I've watched in a while, the music was perfect. I have listened to this song a ridiculous number of times in a short period of time but it's that good. (Especially in the context of the movie.)
"King" - Florence + The Machine
Florence is back! They've released three singles so far and I've liked every one (but this is my fave). It's giving me high hopes for the new album.
"Wild Child" - The Black Keys
I've been pretty disappointed with their later albums but they've always remained one of my favorite bands. In fact, I'm seeing them live for the first time this summer! I shouldn't have been surprised to see they released a new single but I was. But even more surprising? That I really, really like it.
Yes, I am still listening to this song. I recently saw him live which put this back on my "in constant rotation" list.
"You're All that I Need to Get By" - Emilia Jones, CODA soundtrack
I watched CODA last week and not only was it one of the best movies I've watched in a while, the music was perfect. I have listened to this song a ridiculous number of times in a short period of time but it's that good. (Especially in the context of the movie.)
"King" - Florence + The Machine
Florence is back! They've released three singles so far and I've liked every one (but this is my fave). It's giving me high hopes for the new album.
"Wild Child" - The Black Keys
I've been pretty disappointed with their later albums but they've always remained one of my favorite bands. In fact, I'm seeing them live for the first time this summer! I shouldn't have been surprised to see they released a new single but I was. But even more surprising? That I really, really like it.
"So Right" - SHAUN, Yuna
If Yuna is singing, there's a 99.9% chance I will love the song. She also has her single out and I hope this is a sign of more new music to come.
"what are we" - Virginia to Vegas
I've had four of their songs on repeat for a couple months now, so it was tough to choose one song but this one matched the vibe of the playlist best.
"Lost" - Blake Rose
There's just something about the vibe of this song that pulled me in when I first heard it.
"All I've Ever Known" - Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney
I saw Hadestown for the first time last month and I've been listening to song every day since. I love Eva's voice!
"Intimidated" - KAYTRANADA, H.E.R.
It's got such a chill, catchy vibe. Especially once it hits the bridge/chorus! It makes me want to dance.
"Warm Blindness & A Cool Breeze" - Calvin Love
I don't even remember how I found Calvin Love (it might've been Twitter?) but listening to this song makes me think of driving in my car during the summer and having the windows down while my music is blasting.
If Yuna is singing, there's a 99.9% chance I will love the song. She also has her single out and I hope this is a sign of more new music to come.
"what are we" - Virginia to Vegas
I've had four of their songs on repeat for a couple months now, so it was tough to choose one song but this one matched the vibe of the playlist best.
"Lost" - Blake Rose
There's just something about the vibe of this song that pulled me in when I first heard it.
"All I've Ever Known" - Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney
I saw Hadestown for the first time last month and I've been listening to song every day since. I love Eva's voice!
"Intimidated" - KAYTRANADA, H.E.R.
It's got such a chill, catchy vibe. Especially once it hits the bridge/chorus! It makes me want to dance.
"Warm Blindness & A Cool Breeze" - Calvin Love
I don't even remember how I found Calvin Love (it might've been Twitter?) but listening to this song makes me think of driving in my car during the summer and having the windows down while my music is blasting.
***
Hope you enjoyed my playlist!
It has been too long since I last did a "What's in my Bag?" post! But I added this new beauty to my bag collection and haven't wasted any time using it so I really wanted to share my thoughts.
The Bag
Chanel Medium Classic Flap | In February, I finally got the bag of my dreams after wanting it for way over a decade. It's black, caviar leather with gold hardware and this picture doesn't even begin to do it justice. It's the most beautiful bag! I'm just under 5 ft and I've heard some fellow petite women say that the small is a better size but I disagree. I think the medium is also perfect for petites. It can be worn over the shoulder or crossbody and carries more than I expected it to (although, it unfortunately won't fit my iPad mini or a book; unless you literally just carry a small mass paperback with a card holder and keys). I've been using it SO much but I'll admit, I still feel a bit shy wearing it to work (also I always carry a backpack to work now and it ruins the vibe, lol).
The NecessitiesSamorga Organizer | These are probably the most popular organizers for luxury designer bags and with good reason. They are admittedly price but I honestly think it's worth it. Each organizer comes in different widths/thickness and I went for the thinner one since I'm using them more as a liner to protect the inside rather than an organizer. They're super well made!
Chanel Classic Zipped Coin Purse | Even though I have card holders and other wallets I use occasionally, I always go back to this one.
Celine C Charm Small Pouch Quilted Leather | I use this small pouch to carry around cash, coupons, receipts, etc.
Celine C Charm Small Pouch Quilted Leather | I use this small pouch to carry around cash, coupons, receipts, etc.
Hand sanitizer + Micron pen | I prefer Bath & Body Works' hand sanitizer spray and I prefer my trusty Pilot G2 .07 pen but this size sanitizer fits better and a pen with a secure cap seems safer for this bag.
Lipstick case from Joy in Bag | This comes in handy for smaller bags because I typically carry a little pouch for things like this, which I obviously can't do here. So I use this felt case to hold my lip balm, lipstick, and a mini-sized concealer which are my three must haves.
Vaccine card holder | I'm still carrying mine around out of habit. Plus the case is cute!
Vaccine card holder | I'm still carrying mine around out of habit. Plus the case is cute!
Louis Vuitton 6 Key Holder in Monogram | I love how this looks. But I'll admit, at first it was annoying that I had to remember to grab this AND my car keys (since they're separate). It was a hard habit to break but ultimately I prefer it since I basically don't drive my car Monday-Friday and I definitely don't need my car keys when I commute into the city.
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Hope you enjoyed seeing what's in my bag!
What are some of your necessities?
If you're interested in doing a guest post, email me!
For the newbies: From 2013-2017, I had a BookBags feature where I paired books with bags and in the middle of that, I introduced What's in my Bag as a subset of that feature where I shared what's in my bag and invited other bloggers to guest post too. I decided to bring the feature back in 2019!
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Welcome!
Hi, I’m Rachel! New Yorker at heart, Francophile in spirit, and forever wanderlusting. I’m passionate about books, ice cream, photography and finding creativity in my every day life.
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