Has your state started reopening yet? The tri-states area that we live in is trying to get back to normal, but our family isn't in a huge rush to return to the way things were. To be honest, we didn't go out all that much to begin with, but there's just something about being told that you can't, y'know? Anyway, we've stuck pretty close to home the past few weeks, other than the occasional trip to the post office or bank and that one day we went down to the beach for a few hours. We've slowly been easing up on our nearly complete isolation of Alexis, but not by much. I have been getting dressed every day, even if it isn't until mid-afternoon, *shrug*, but I haven't been good about taking photos. I did, however, get photos of some of the newer pieces I talked about last week.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and usually wear size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in jeans, and size 7 in shoes.

Considering we've been staying at home more than usual, it should come as no surprise that we've been watching a lot more TV than we normally do. We've been taking advantage of being able to rent new releases...after the price drops down from movie theater prices. We've also been catching up on movies we've been wanting to see but haven't had the time. So here are 10 newer movies we've watched in the last couple of months.

Dolittle - I'd been excited about this movie when they cast Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Dolittle. It was true to what I remember of the book, for the most part. I will say that RDJ's accent was a little hard to understand at times, so you might want to watch with subtitles. I do not recommend this movie for younger kids because there are a few violent scenes (especially the one with the tiger).

Anna - We didn't know what we were getting into when we started this movie, but it turned out to be pretty good. A Russian KGB agent looking for a way out of the life she didn't really have a choice in to begin with. If you like James Bond movies, you'll probably enjoy this, and if you liked The Americans on FX you're even more likely to like it.

Knives Out - This movie is superb, and I am really sad not to have gotten to see it on the big screen. The characters are so quirky. Chris Evans is superb, and Daniel Craig's southern is amazing.  Pro tip: don't blink or look away for even a second or you'll be completely lost.

Birds of Prey: And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn - As far as anti-hero movies go, this was pretty good. I'm not sad that I didn't see it in theaters, but I will watch it again.

Hobbs & Shaw - I usually don't have a lot of hope for spin-off movies, but this one proved me wrong. Other than their pre-existing relationship, this movie makes absolutely no mention of the Fast & Furious franchise, and has a completely independent story line, which I was pleasantly surprised by.

Bad Boys for Life - We'd been looking forward to this movie ever since the first trailer was released. It was a good wrap-up to Mike and Marcus's story.

Bumblebee - Yeah, yeah. I know we're late to the party with this one, but better late than never. I loved how this was a throwback to the old-school Transformers, and Hailee Steinfeld was excellent.

Midway - Remember Pearl Harbor? This is so much better (sorry Rafe and Danny). Definitely another one I'm sad I didn't see in theaters.

Crazy Rich Asians - I'd honestly been wanting to watch this for awhile, and it did not disappoint. Even my husband enjoyed it. It was funny and romantic and had a plot with substance. 10/10

Scoob! - If you're a Scooby Doo fan, you definitely need to watch this. So good. I may have teared up a little at the end. We actually full-out bought this one because we knew Alexis would want to watch it over and over again.

This is the first week this month that I don't have my week's content planned in advance. Not even this post. You see, I usually spend one afternoon of my weekend planning and writing posts for the coming week, but this past weekend I decided that I needed to focus on me a little more than I've been doing. Thus, only one post scheduled for this week, and it wasn't this one.

Professionally speaking, this May has been pretty tough. I'm finally feeling the effects of the past two months in which all my summer advertisers have been closed. So what is usually my best time of year is most decidedly not. I know this, too, shall pass, but as I'm looking at my current totals and lack of responses for the upcoming issue, I can't help but feel discouraged.

Personally speaking, this month has been building up to a long-awaited solution to a health problem that's been plaguing me for the past year. The upcoming procedure has me nervous on a completely different level, as I'll be having surgery during a pandemic and face a lengthy recovery process.

So, in breaking with my recent trend of more involved motivation posts, I'm going to take some time to breathe. Because I, for one, am beyond ready for this chapter to end.

It's been a long couple of months. From a professional perspective, especially, it's been a struggle. I've had to completely change the way I do monthly distribution and have been working to come up with solutions that not only keep me afloat but also helps local businesses get their message to local families. To be quite honest, there's a lot of not great things I could be focusing on right now, but instead I'm choosing to focus on the good things that are happening. So I thought it would be nice to share some of the things that I've been loving this past month.


1. Pink Old Navy Sweatshirt - This is by far the most useful piece of clothing I've bought this year. I rarely wear it in its own outfit, but it's perfect for slipping on over a dress or thin shirt when I get cool in the house. As a matter of fact, I'm wearing it over a slip dress right now...

2. Slipper Booties from Amazon - My husband made fun of me when I asked for these for Mother's Day, but he bought them anyway, and let me tell you. These slippers have rarely left my feet since. They are so comfortable, and the hard bottoms mean I can wear them to check the mail and even if I'm just running through a drive-thru.

3. Cargo Sweats from Old Navy - I'm not a big sweat pants wearer, especially outside the house, but I like these ones that have cargo pockets. They make them look a little less like lounge wear.

4. Brown Wedge Sandals from ShoeDazzle - I waited what seemed like forever to get these beauties in, and boy, they did not disappoint. They go with pretty much everything. I've been wearing them non-stop...even though I'm not really going anywhere.

5. Blue Striped Satchel from ShoeDazzle - All the heart eyes for this bag. Unfortunately, it's already sold out. I like this one, too.

6. Universal Thread Denim Shorts from Target - Raise your hands if you hate buying shorts. It's so hard to find a pair that fits well that don't cost a ridiculous price. These shorts were under $20, and they are so comfy. They have just the right amount of distressing

7. Time & Tru White Denim Jacket from Walmart - I extolled the virtues of this jacket in this post, but seriously. I've been using it as my third piece for pretty much every dress these days.

8. New Glasses from Liingo Eyewear - I haven't been able to get an eye appointment, but seriously needed some new glasses. So we decided to give Liingo a try. It's really cool how it works. They use an app to read your prescription and get your measurements. You can even add blue light blocking tint for $50, which I did because I stare at a computer screen almost all day long. I'm very impressed with the quality of these glasses.

9. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo - I finally got my hair cut last week, but my hair has been struggling the last several weeks. It's been dull and uncooperative and just ugh. So I did some research and determined that I probably needed to find a clarifying shampoo. I wasn't able to find the one I was specifically looking for, but I did find this Neutrogena brand one and decided to give it a shot. I honestly could tell a difference as soon as I rinsed my hair out, and then once it had dried it was so much brighter than it's been being.

10. Living Room Rug - It's the same brand as the rugs we bought for our bedroom and my office. It's soft and didn't require a liner. It really brought everything together and made the room finally feel complete.

11. My crock pot - Awhile back, I talked about how much I was loving my Instant Pot, and while I still do love it, I've been using my crock pot more frequently this month. I have two different sizes, but this is the one I use most frequently.

12. Ozark Trail Wine Tumblers - These are great for when I want a glass of wine with my bubble bath.

13. Publix Delivery by Instacart - In all honesty, I was using this service before the pandemic started, but I've seriously been loving it this month. Thanks to this, I can avoid the one-way aisles and people who refuse to stay 6-feet away from me.

14. Shoe Shelf - My closet was a big reason why we bought our house (seriously), but as big as it is, it didn't have good shoe storage options and they all kind of end up in a pile near the door. Since he's been home for so long, my husband built me a shoe shelf along one side. It's seriously amazing.

15. Block! Hexa - I talked about this game in one of my recent motivation posts, but I couldn't do this post without mentioning it again. This game has seriously become one of my biggest stress relievers.

Remember a few weeks ago when I shared my summer style picks? Well, I finally received all of the stuff I ordered and have had a chance to wear or at least try on the different pieces. So instead of editing that other post, I decided to do a "part 2" and tell you what I thought about each of these purchases, and link to where you can see them worn if I can.

Sizing: I'm 5'2" and usually wear size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in pants/shorts, and size 7 in shoes.


1. Wine Red Maxi Dress - I really love this dress (seen here). It's thin but not see-through and it hugs my curves in a flattering way, which is rare. It's also not too long for me to wear it with flat sandals and it has pockets!

2. Black Twist Knot Tee - This tee is super soft but a lot longer than I expected it to be. I don't think sizing down would help with that problem. The twist definitely adds something.

3. Striped Romper - I can't even explain how much this is going to get worn this summer. It's basically like wearing pajamas. I might even order it in the army green color as well.

4. Olive Floral Jumpsuit - I was pleasantly surprised by the way this jumpsuit fit (seen here and here). I was really worried it would be too tight in the hips, but it was really flattering. I will say that because of how thin it is, it creases pretty easily.

5. Tie-Dyed Jeans - I totally bought these on a whim and truthfully have no idea how much I'll wear them, but they're a fun alternative to solid white jeans.

6. Black Denim Shorts - These are pretty comfortable as far as shorts go. I probably could have gone up a size and gotten a little more room in the legs, but overall they fit like they should.

7. Faux Suede Taupe Sneakers - I love these sneakers. I bought them to replace my fave pink pull-on sneakers that I ruined by spilling chili all over them. I haven't done a lot of walking in them yet because of social distancing and staying home more, but just wearing them around the house they've been comfortable.

8. Brown Wedges - I've worn these a lot since they came in (here, here). They are really tall, like 5 inches, but I haven't had any issues walking in them. The footbed is slightly padded and the strap across the toes doesn't rub that I've noticed.

9. Blue Striped Canvas Satchel - This bag is absolutely darling in person (seen here). It's large enough to hold all my stuff with no issues but doesn't feel bulky or heavy. Unfortunately, the blue version of this bag has sold out, but the white/brown/black version is still available. If you really want blue, check out the Summer Friday Satchel and the Open Dome Satchel.

Who doesn't love a good pasta bake? But, seriously, who has time to make them! I'm always adding them to my Pinterest recipe board but never making them, until I found this super easy, not time consuming recipe. It's so creamy and cheesy and everything a comfort meal is made of. And when I say my family absolutely loved it, I mean we actually saved the leftovers and it got eat the next day. That very rarely happens in my house.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 20 oz. Package Tortellini (refrigerated or frozen)
• 16 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
• 24 oz. Jar Traditional Spaghetti Sauce
• 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese

Sometimes in hotter months, when I'm focusing on staying cool as well as put together, my outfits feel like they're missing something. In the summer, especially in the South, working in a third completer piece of clothing can be difficult. Unless you work in an overly air-conditioned office, cardigan sweaters and denim jackets are out of the question. In the past few years, I've come to rely on my utility and denim vest to get me through the spring and summer months. I'll admit, I wear them mostly with dresses when I feel like I need to add a little structure or want my shoulders to be covered. I looked through my archives from last summer to share some ways you can wear a vest in warmer months.

Sizing: I'm 5'2" and usually wear size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in pants/shorts, and size 7 in shoes.

I keep having to remind myself of this, especially as I find myself taking longer to get through daily to-do lists only to be followed by a day where it seems as if I run out of tasks by lunch time. Although to be honest, I haven't felt like I've had many productive days these past few weeks when it comes to work. I've definitely been working, but I don't have a lot to show for it. I'm blaming it on all the confusion related to this pandemic and the slow reopening of things. This is traditionally my busiest week of the month, as everything starts to come together for the next month's magazine. So in keeping with my current theme with these motivational posts, I thought I would share five things I couldn't live without in my home office.

1. Planner - Between school projects, work deadlines, doctor visits and other appointments, I would get absolutely nothing accomplished without a planner. I'm a big fan of The Parent Planner. I like that it has the entire month plus daily pages to keep track of my life. It also has thumb dividers and pockets for storing important papers.

2. Blue Light Blocking Glasses - I started using blue light blocking glasses a couple of years ago, and now I can't spend a day working from my computer without them. They have significantly reduced my eye strain, and if I didn't already have daith piercings I feel like I would be able to tell a difference in the amount of headaches I used to have. These days, my blue light blocking glasses are also my prescription glasses, but I started out with this pair.

3. Cozy Blanket - I, for one, can't work when I'm hot, so I tend to keep my office pretty chilly. That said, I also don't want to sit and freeze. So I invested in a plush throw to keep my legs and feet wrapped up. The one I have isn't available anymore, but this one is pretty similar.

4. Comfy Headphones - I talked about my headphones in an earlier motivation post. I don't use them every day, but when I really need to get things done, using headphones helps keep me focused.

5. Desk Organizer - Admittedly, my desk stays pretty cluttered when I'm actually working, but I do try to reorganize everything at the end of the day so I can start the next work day on a good note. At the moment, my organizational system is very mismatched, but I've got my eye on this really pretty rose gold set from Amazon.

My home office also has a space set up for my daughter so she can 'work' with me and a book corner where I can relax and have a moment to myself. What are your home office essentials?

I've never particularly felt the draw of owning a white denim jacket, but this past winter I splurged on a white leather jacket and wore it so much more than I anticipated. Then when I rounded up all those outfits with a jean jacket back in March, I realized that I could get just as much use out of a white denim jacket, maybe even more, and the search began.

Let me begin my review by saying that I only wanted to spend around $30, which can be tough when buying denim. Then I found this Time and Tru jacket at Walmart for only $20. It's sturdy but lightweight. The sleeves were easy to roll, and it has functioning pockets not only on the outside but also inside. It hits me just below my natural waist (where the belt is sitting). I got the medium, which is what size I normally wear in Time and Tru.


I layered the jacket over this favorite sleeveless dress from Old Navy, which you've seen in several posts already. It's still available in every size in this pattern and comes in four other colors/patterns. I kept the overall look casual with my slip-on Converse. Unfortunately, my super cute satchel has already sold out in the blue sripes, but it's still available in a white/brown/black combo.

Outfit Details
Dress
Jacket
Shoes
Bag

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Originally, this post was meant to be about spring weddings, seeing as I had two weddings on my calendar. Of course, neither of those weddings happened as planned. One of the couples still had their ceremony, but it was restricted to close family and streamed online. The other couple rescheduled for late July. I originally was only going to show one dress, but I've had a lot more time at home with a mostly willing photographer on hand so I decided to show three dresses I would wear to a summer wedding.




I bought this beautiful maxi dress specifically to wear to my friend's wedding. It's fully lined, but I still wouldn't wear dark-colored underwear. It's pleated from neck to hem and has a tie for the waist. I tried it without but needed something to give my waist some definition. The pattern is technically blue and white tie-dye, but I think it looks like clouds. It's a halter neck, and the straps are not adjustable. I paired it with my favorite, wear-with-anything, low-heeled neutral sandals. (Here's a similar dress in a different neckline.)




As you can probably tell, I love floral-patterned dresses. They're perfect for summer, especially in a bright color like orange or red. A wrap-style midi dress is universally flattering. Mine has a few added frills like the ruffle around the neckline and over my shoulders, and the tie detail on the back. My dress is from last summer. but I've rounded up some similar styles below.





Light-colored prints are a great option for outdoor weddings. Not only are they seasonally appropriate, but the lighter color will also keep you cool in the heat. I recommend a dress that's at least knee-length. My dress is a few years old. I like the surplice top, and that I can wear the 'sleeves' either on under my arms. I've rounded up some pretty, light-colored dresses for you below.

About three years ago, I decided to embrace my naturally wavy-curly hair. Growing up, none of my classmates had curly hair, or if they did they straightened it. It wasn't until I went to college that I was exposed to girls proudly wearing their natural curls, but still I didn't let my waves loose on a regular basis. Once I entered the working world, I found myself skipping the straightener more and more, but I really didn't know what I was doing.

My hair is a mix between 2c-3a. If I let it air dry without product, it tends to be more wavy than curly, but if I use the right product and diffuser I can achieve more defined waves/curls. When I finally decided to jump into the curly lifestyle, I did my research and started on a journey that's still ongoing. I read all about the Curly Girl Method, learned about curl types, watched videos on how to use a diffuser the right way, and experimented with a ton of products. Speaking of those products, I wanted to share what works for me and how I use them. All of these products are budget friendly and can be found in your local drugstore, Target or Walmart, or ordered from Amazon.


Wash Day
So let me start off by saying that I only do a full wash with shampoo about once a week. I've tried three different systems but always come back to Cantu. The shampoo is sulfate and phosphate free, but still lathers up slightly and leaves my hair feeling clean but not dry. I apply it to the top of my head, massage into my scalp, and then let it wash through the rest of my hair when I rinse. The conditioner is nice and thick. I squeeze it into my hair (re: don't rake it through with my fingers) and let it soak for a few minutes. Then I flip my head/hair over and rinse it out.

Between Washes
Just because I don't shampoo my hair every day, or even every other day, doesn't mean I don't wash it between shampoos. I do what's called a cowash on the third day. I use Cantu Complete Conditioning Cowash to remove product buildup and sweat, then follow that up with Cantu Curl Stretcher Cream Rinse to help keep my waves nice and springy. I let the curl stretcher sit for 3-5 minutes, or until my hair feels slimy, then flip upside down to rinse out. On days when I don't use the cowash, I at least rinse my hair out with water, and some days I use the curl stretcher on its own.

Leave-In Treatments
I use leave-in treatments sparingly as they tend to be really heavy in my hair. I like Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Cream for when conditioning in the shower just isn't cutting it (approximately every 3 weeks or so). After my shower, I slather it on my hair and wrap it up in a microfiber towel overnight, then rinse it out the next morning. I use Cantu Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment about once a week to help prevent breakage when I use my diffuser.

The MVP's of Products
When it comes to styling, I've learned that with my hair, less is more. I have tried a bunch of products, but these 4 are my holy grail. I consistently have the best, longest-lasting results when I use them. Pro tip: I apply either cream before I get out of the shower, when my hair is still really wet. I scrunch the product in, not rake, and then wrap my hair loosely in a microfiber towel.

OGX Morroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream is my #1 product as it's so versatile for me. I get good results whether I air dry or use my diffuser, so win-win. I prefer this cream on my wash days as it tends to be a little heavier. I mostly use this cream on its own, but it does pair well with the gel I'll talk about in a moment.

I use Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream on days I cowash or use the curl stretcher. Like I mentioned above, I scrunch the cream into my hair before I get out of the shower, then wrap my hair loosely in a microfiber towel. After about 20 minutes, I remove the towel and scrunch in Aussie Instant Freeze 20-Hour Gel. I only use a dollop, and apply it to my hair upside down, scrunching from the roots upward. Then I diffuse my hair until it's about 85-90% dry. I let the rest air dry and scrunch out any leftover crunch. This combination has the best record for second and third-day curls.

Aussie Miracle Curls Curl-Defining Oil is the real champ of my products. I use this oil to finish out my daily styling. I also use it to tame frizz on high-humidity days, and it works nicely to re-animate second-day curls. Not to mention, it smells amazing.

Honorable Mentions
Before I wrap things up, I want to share three other great products that I occasionally use.

Cantu Curl Activator Cream is a good follow-up for the Cantu shampoo and conditioner. It offers nice, frizz-free definition for waves/curls. I don't use it regularly because it tends to be a little too heavy for my hair and leads to more washing than my hair needs.

I use Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse on days between washes when I don't feel like diffusing my hair. This product is really light. It does not give me defined curls, even if I use my diffuser. It does help reduce frizz and air dries without much crunchiness.

I really only use OGX Morroccan Sea Salt Spray for beach or lake days. I've used several salt sprays, and I like this one the best. It's not super heavy, and it smells better than others I've tried.

Another week of social distancing has come and gone. My state has started reopening in phases, and I am so excited to be able to get my hair cut later this week (I'm two months overdue!). We've also got a day trip to the beach planned with some cousins, which will give Alexis some much-needed play time with kids her own age, and I don't have to worry about where they've been (home like us). For the most part, life won't change for us immediately. We still plan on keeping Alexis away from big crowds. She has asthma so we're being cautious. And we'll continue to do restaurant take-out rather than dine-in for at least another month. I, for one, can't wait until our library reopens and I can reschedule my long overdue dentist appointment.

In the meantime, we've all be spending way more time on our devices these days, so I thought I would share my top 5 phone apps - not counting social media, and no, Pinterest isn't social media to me.

1. Pinterest - I would much rather look at Pinterest on my phone or tablet than on my computer. Whenever I pull up a recipe I've pinned, I'm not setting my laptop up on the counter. Anyway, I've been trying out a lot of new recipes and Pinterest is honestly easier to keep track of them with than writing them down.

2. Webtoon - Do you like comics? I'm not necessarily talking about Marvel or DC. You could just like the Sunday funnies. This app has dozens of comics that you won't see in the newspaper or find in a comic book store. Most update weekly, although some are biweekly or even daily. I never miss an episode of Lore Olympus, SubZero, or unOrdinary.

3. Block! Hexa - This is a puzzle game where you have to fit pieces into a layout.

4. Amazon Music - I use this app while I'm getting ready in the morning. It's included in my Prime membership, but they're also running a special right now where you can get 3 months free unlimited music.

5. Happy Color/Paint by Number - Technically this is two different apps, but they're the same type of app. Each drops new pictures every day. It's super relaxing, but beware. It will kill your phone battery.

What apps are you loving right now?