4 Things I Learned About Teaching My First Year

It's hard to believe that this school year is over. What a learning experience it has been for me (and hopefully my students)!

In a lot of ways, teaching has been like working in a newsroom, especially a managerial or supervisory position. Back then, I was the executive producer, which means I was in charge of managing the moving parts of several newscasts each day, supervising 25 reporters, producers, and anchors, and coordinating with two other departments: production and advertising. These days, I manage three classes ranging from 17-28 students with remedial, special education, and gifted learners.

I've gone from planning daily news coverage to creating lesson plans. Instead of meeting daily deadlines, I plan content to fit specific class times, accounting for bathroom and locker breaks, with an ultimate deadline that is state testing. Instead of fixing other people's writing, I'm helping create the next generation of writers by teaching elements of plot, information gathering skills, basic grammar, and more.

Like reporters, students are always hungry, always pushing up against deadlines, and are rarely happy with their assignments.

Basically, both situations are like herding cats. Or attempting to anyway.

This past school year was eye opening not only about the things teachers deal with on a daily basis but  also about the strange and unusual happenings between kids during what is arguably the most awkward age range in life.

Despite the short amount of time I've been in the classroom, I feel confident I could write a book if I were so inclined. I always knew what it was like because my mom has been a middle school teacher for years, but now I know know. So, here are the top four things I've learned about teaching so far.

1. Teachers are always overstimulated. Always. As a parent, I wasn't a stranger to overstimulation before, but now I have a greater appreciation for the depth to which teachers feel it. If a parent can feel overstimulated with one child, imagine what a teacher feels with classes ranging from 20-30 kids each.

I feel this most acutely on Tuesdays when I take Alexis to gymnastics. There is a viewing room, which is about the size of a standard bedroom. It's always filled with parents and siblings, a lot of whom are running about hairy scary with no regard to the other people in the room. After a day of teaching and near-constant noise, sitting in that room watching Alexis's practice is akin to being forced to endure nails on a chalkboard for an hour with no way to protect my ears. By the time we leave, my skin is crawling.

2. Consistency is important. This was something I learned working in television, ironically. People have routines and expect certain things to happen at or around the same time every day, especially the weather forecast. Surprisingly, the same is true for the classroom. Having a consistent schedule helps with giving my students the structure they need to be successful. Do they push back against it? Absolutely. But when we veer from that pre-established breakdown of our class period, they're inevitably thrown for a loop and chaos is imminent.

3. You cannot and will not reach every student. Whether that's with individual lessons or at all throughout the year, it's an impossible standard to set for yourself. Some students just will not get it no matter how many different ways you try to reach them, others just don't care, and some will always look for something in which to find fault even in a lesson they won't admit that they enjoyed.

4. Choice goes a long way. One of the best classroom management techniques I've implemented is giving students options to take ownership of their behavior. The conversation usually goes something like this: "You have two options. You can choose to stop doing [unwanted behavior], or you can choose to go see an administrator. Choose wisely." Usually by this point I've already given a few warnings, so those students who continue to act out don't get another chance. Luckily, nine times out of ten, the student settles down, and we move on with class.

Year one is officially over, and year two will be starting before we know it. To all the teachers out there, make the most of your summer vacation. You've earned it!

End of School Outfit Roundup

Summer break is finally here! But I've got one more round-up of teacher-approved outfits for you before things fully transition into all-things summer. Don't worry, though. A few of the things featured in this post will work through the season, and I've got two dresses I bought specifically for summer, although they could both be styled for the classroom as well. I'm all about versatility.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135 lbs. I usually wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

T-shirt / Skirt / Sandals

I was so excited about this skirt. It is so much fun and was the perfect accessory for my Maui and Moana unit. This is the third time I've bought this skirt - that's how much I love it. I have the dusty blue gingham and the grassgreen floral print. Both of those are shorter lengths on me, but all three are the same size (medium). The gingham is a completely different fabric; it's much thicker and a bit stiff. The waist is elastic, it has a subtle tiered design, and it has pockets, which is always a plus.

I fell in love with this t-shirt on first sight. "You can do hard things" is something my health coach would say to me in pretty much every session we had, and it's stuck with me. This shirt comes in a green color as well, and they've got a couple other sayings you can choose from. It is a fitted tee, which is why I got it in a medium.

I love these braided strap white wedges. The heel is just under 4-inches but it feels much lower to me. These are a perfect finishing touch for almost anything I would wear in warmer months. A word of warning, though. The strap is a bit tight, so if you're between sizes, you might want to consider sizing up to avoid uncomfortable squeezing.

T-shirt / Jeans / Belt / Sneakers (similar)

This year, my students were obsessed with all things emo, even though most of them didn't have a true understanding of what it means. Considering I grew up in that era and never really outgrew it, I decided to give them a glimpse of the style I always find myself falling back on.

Let's start with my belt. I can't describe how excited I was to find this. I had a belt like this for pretty much my entire teen and young adult years. I never really got into the studded belt trend, but the grommet belt was my absolute favorite.

This Kiss graphic tee was just too perfect to pass up. I had other plans for it when I bought it, but it definitely worked for the aesthetic I was going for. My black super skinny Rockstar jeans have been in my closet for so long, they're practically part of the family. My sneakers are the unr8ted brand (one of my faves because they're usually super comfortable), but I got them on clearance and haven't been able to find them online. I've linked to a pair that's pretty close, but honestly I've not seen anything that has the zipper sides plus laces. That's what made me fall in love with this pair. They're high tops, not wedge.

T-shirt / Vest (similar) / Skirt (similar, similar) / Sandals (similar)

If this outfit looks familiar, that's because I've worn and shared it before. This skirt is one of my favorites. I'm not the biggest fan of the quilt/patchwork trend except for in a skirt, and this one is a lot of fun. It's been long sold out, but I've linked to a couple of options that have a similar vibe. My vest is several years old, but you can find denim vests pretty much anywhere. My t-shirt is just a basic scoop neck that I got from Walmart. I linked to the brand, but the colors are always changing so this exact pink might not be available. My sandals are old, too, but they're still a favorite. They're an easy, neutral shoe that's comfortable and wears like flip flops without looking like flip flops.

Dress (Wantable) / Shirt (similar) / Sandals (similar)

This dress is a favorite from a past Wantable box. It's got adjustable spaghetti straps, so if I wear it for school I have to wear something over it. So far, I haven't strayed from my chambray button-up because I just really like the look. I partially button it and then tie the bottom and tuck the tail underneath. I've had mine for quite a few years, so it's no longer available. My sandals are pretty old, too, and long sold out.

Shirt (similar) / Jeans (similar) / Sandals

I'm not going to lie. This pair of ecru-colored jeans has been really difficult for me to style. I don't think it's because of the color, though. They're straight-legged but in a curvy cut, so the fit is a little off for me, I think. They feel almost baggy, and while they don't look bad, it's a definite change for me, so my mind hasn't quite wrapped around it yet. I do like this shirt paired with them, but I wish I'd done something different with my shoes. I love these sandals, but the color isn't right for this outfit. I honestly don't know what other shoes I would choose though.

Shirt (similar) / Pants / Belt (similar) / Sandals (similar)

This is another pair of pants I've struggled to style recently. This time it's because of the color. I can't decide if they're green or blue. So I've mostly been keeping it simple, which for me means no patterns. It's hard to tell in the picture, but my blouse has a lace-like pattern to keep it from being just a plain white shirt. I don't remember my reasoning for the flat sandals, but typically I would wear a shoe with a bit of a heel with this style of pants. The great thing about this pair, however, is that they're actually the right length so I can wear any shoes with them. You can read more about them and the other pants from this brand that I have here.

Shirt / Pants (similar) / Sandals (similar)

This was me coincidentally dressing in my school's colors. I mean, I knew they were our colors, but I was honestly just pairing colors that I thought looked nice together. These gold linen pants are a favorite, and every time I wear them someone inevitably asks for the link. Unfortunately, this is a tough color to match. However, Old Navy does have a pretty pale yellow pair of pants that are cut pretty similarly, so I linked to those.

My blouse is a really good one, y'all. I love the swiss dot trend. It gives any piece of clothing personality and depth. I like the split neck design of this shirt as well as the flowy sleeves. It comes in 20 additional colors.

You can't tell from this picture, but I'm actually wearing wedges. They're about 4.5 inches, too. Anyway, they're a few years old, so I linked to what I thought was a decent option.

T-shirt / Skirt / Sandals

This was my last school-related outfit. I wore this on my last official work day for this school year. There were no kids present, though. I wore this because I had an appointment that afternoon and wanted to look semi put together and not like I'd been sitting in an empty classroom for half a day. Anyway, I love literary-themed shirts, and The Wind in the Willows will always be a favorite, so I couldn't pass up this Frog and Toad graphic tee. I don't think it's a perfect match with my skirt, but it's close enough.

Dress / Sandals

We've made it to my first summer outfit! I fell in love with this dress when I saw it. The bodice is smocked, which I like because it's just a flattering style. The length is appropriate for most everything. The sleeves can be worn on or off the shoulder, and as you can see are slightly puffed, which we all know I love. The pattern is perfect for spring and summer. It's so bright and fun.

Dress / Sandals

I picked up this dress and sandals during Old Navy's Memorial Day sale. I got the dress in a small because the straps are not adjustable. I probably could have worn the medium, though, and I'll most likely not put it in the dryer so it doesn't shrink. The bodice is a jersey material with zero stretchiness. The skirt is polyester, I believe, and prone to wrinkles. I love the color, though.

The sandals are completely flat and nice and strappy. I'd been looking for a dark brown flat sandal like this since my other pair felt a bit dated and look a little worse for wear since they got wet not too long ago. These are nice and sturdy, so I'm hopeful they'll hold up for awhile.

My Style: Slip Skirts

When slip skirts started trending, my little 90s kid heart started glowing with joy. You see, back when slip skirts first had their moment, I was in elementary school, so they weren't age appropriate, and I missed out. Now that they're back in style and available pretty much everywhere, I've been going a bit overboard adding to cart. I want them all!

If there's one thing to know about me, it's that when I find a style I love, it becomes almost like a personality trait. Good thing these skirts are so versatile when it comes to styling. Granted, I tend to wear mine with a lot of graphic tees, but slip skirts have a place in all four seasons and can be dressed up or down.

For me, I've been wearing them for work purposes. As a teacher, I walk the line between professional and comfortable, and I'm always trying to be a good fashion role model for my students. Slip skirts make that easy.

I like that they make me feel feminine. They hug in all the right places, accentuating what few curves I have while not feeling overly sexual, which is always a concern when you teach middle school (hormones, y'all!).

There are a ton of slip skirts out there right now, but not all are created equal. Here are the top three things I look for when choosing a new beauty to add to my collection:

• Elastic Waist - Don't get me wrong; I do own a couple of zipper-waist slip skirts. However, because this style of skirt is a slimmer fit, I prefer styles with a little more movement. Not only are they more comfortable, but they tend to be more flattering as well.
• Side Slit - Almost all of my slip skirts have a side slit, although you have to be careful of how high it reaches to keep things school-appropriate. Side slits help with ease of movement.
• Midi Length - This one is just a personal preference, but for my petite frame, this is the most flattering length in a slip skirt for me.

Here are five ways I've worn a slip skirt this past school year plus a bonus slip dress at the end.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothing and size 7 in shoes.

Shirt / Skirt / Shoes

Shirt / Skirt / Shoes

Shirt / Jacket (similar) / Skirt / Shoes

Shirt / Skirt / Shoes (similar)

Shirt / Skirt (old) / Shoes

Dress (unavailable) / Jacket (similar) / Shoes

My New Favorite Work Pants: An Honest Review of Democracy Absolution Pants

As a teacher, I'm always on the lookout for professional yet comfortable clothing that I can move in easily. Democracy's Absolution brand pants absolutely fit that bill, and I feel it is my duty to share the goodness of these pants with the world!

I was first introduced to the Democracy brand through a Wantable box. I almost didn't even try on the olive green pants because I had a similar pair already in my closet. Also, the price tag was a bit of a turn-off at first, and I definitely balked.

But in the end, I decided to try them on, and I fell in love.

Why I Love Them

When you visit the Absolution section of the Democracy website, you'll see this message splashed across the top of the page:

Democracy® Clothing is a denim-based casual lifestyle brand that celebrates women of all shapes and sizes by designing size-inclusive, body-positive fashion. Built from the bottoms up, our jeans are made with "Ab"solution® Fit Technology that flatters your shape and hugs your body in exactly the right way.

All of the pants you'll see featured in this post are non-denim, but the construction is the same. These pants are designed with super stretchy material and feature hidden mesh panels for tummy control. They also have a sweetheart-shaped back yoke and strategically-placed pockets.

My favorite feature, though, is the hidden elastic waistband that prevents gapping and rolling, meaning the waist lays flat all day long. This has always been my biggest issue with all kinds of pants, so to finally find a brand that has solved it is huge for me!

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" tall and weigh about 135 lbs. I typically wear size 6 in bottoms.

We'll start with the first pair I invested in. These Democracy Absolution Ankle Skimmers quickly became one of my most-worn work pants. They are so versatile! I wear them with blouses and t-shirts, sandals, sneakers, and boots. The olive green is light enough to work in all seasons, and they're surprisingly almost a neutral with the number of color combinations possible.

I'm wearing these in a regular size 6, but they do offer petite and plus sizing. This specific color green, olive, is no longer available, but they do have a darker version called Laurel Oak.

  

They also no longer have this fabulous fuchsia color, which they simply call pink. These are also the ankle skimmers in a size 6. Sadly, right now they don't have anything comparable in color, but I wanted to show these ones as well. With the amount of pink-patterned blouses I own, adding these pants to my closet was a no brainer. I especially like this color paired with navy blue, as you can tell from these two pictures. They've been a fun addition for spring.

The best part about the ankle skimmers is that I can wear them cuffed at the bottom or not. The length works either way, and it helps to create different levels of casualness.

Last, but certainly not least, is the newest addition to my closet, the Itty Bitty Boot. These I'm actually wearing in a petite 6. I tend to like petite sizing in this style of pants so that I can wear all my shoes, not just those with a heel (although that's my usual preference for wider-legged bottoms). In fact, I've only worn these with a pair of sneakers and flat sandals.

This color is called Blue Spruce. I can't decide if it's more green or blue. I think it depends on the top and lighting. Anyway, this color is available in limited petite sizing as well as regular sizing. I did not see these in plus sizing.

I definitely plan to add more Democracy to my closet. I'm excited to try their jeans the most, but they've also got skirts, dresses, and tops. Pricing is a bit higher than I usually go for with clothes, but the quality is definitely worth it.

Weekly Wisdom + Life Lately

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I last posted. It's been a bit of a rough patch the last two weeks. First, Alexis got sick, and then my allergies and sinuses kicked into overdrive and triggered a full-blown migraine that resulted in me having to leave work early. Alexis had a special water day at school as well as her last Honor's Day. My school had its final honors day, which was a crazy day all on its own. There was also Mother's Day weekend and this weekend was Alexis's gymnastics show.

Alexis did really well at her show, despite not feeling well. She's improved a lot over the last year, and we're very proud of how far she's come as well as for sticking it out even though it was a tough day.

We've officially got two-and-a-half days of school with students left. The last several weeks, my students have been working on a final project. They created newsletters highlighting four of their most memorable experiences from this school year. I can't share any photos because our school's media policy, but once it gets approved I'll share the school's post to my Facebook page.

In other news, I made one final bulletin board update for the end of the year.

I wanted to display some of my students' blackout poetry that we did as a collaborative library activity at the end of our poetry unit. They all did remarkable jobs with this fun project, but there was no way I could keep and display 70 projects, so I picked a few of my favorites from each class and had them laminated. For now, they're clothes-pinned to my bulletin board, but I think I'm going to do something a little more permanent with them so I can display them year-round.

Our last activity for the year is reading the original Jumanji picture book and then watching the 90s movie. Then, when the kids leave I'll have the rest of the week to pack up my classroom, although that shouldn't take that long.

That's gonna do it for me for now. I promise I'll have some new posts for you this week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Weekly Wisdom

Happy Sunday, friends. I hope you're enjoying what's left of your weekend. It's been a very low key affair in our house that unexpectedly started a day early.

Alexis had been fighting bad allergies all week, and they took a turn for the worse on Friday, so we ended up at the doctor to make sure there was no infection and to keep things from getting even worse. So we've been inside all weekend trying to avoid as many allergens as possible. It's been pretty boring, actually.

Last week is a bit of a blur, if I'm being honest. We started our final reading unit on Maui as well as the final class project. We're continuing that this week, talking about character archetypes and hero's journey. We're going to watch Moana...well, two classes will at least. One class is still up in the air and may be writing an essay instead.

That's gonna do it for me this week. Like I said, it's been fairly boring, but the good news is we've got 12.5 days until summer vacation! Not that I'm counting...

Teacher Tired But Make It Fashion

It's the end of the school year. We've survived a week of state testing and are trying to make it through another few weeks before summer break.

My motto has always been to dress better than I feel, so right now that means dressing like I have a lot more energy than I actually do. Thankfully, I have some tried-and-true simple outfit formulas to see me through to the end of the school year. And that's what you'll see in this edition of real outfit roundup.

Sizing Note: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I usually wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Tank Top (similar) / Shirt (similar) / Skirt / Sandals

This outfit is really similar to one I wore in late February/early March. Then, I wore an olive green t-shirt, bleached denim jacket, and white sneakers. We were still in that winter-to-spring transition period. Now, we are firmly in the spring-to-summer transition, so I could go a little lighter on the layers.

You might recognize this tank top from last summer. It's got a cute strap detail, which of course is covered here, and a textured vertical stripe pattern to add some interest. It's kind of a goldenrod color and almost a perfect match for the yellow tones in the skirt's pattern. Because the straps are thin, I needed something over the top. It wasn't warm enough for my vest, so I opted for my short-sleeved chambray button-up, which I tied to give more definition to my waist. Instead of sneakers, I wore these platform espadrille sandals.

This skirt is great for warmer weather. It is very thin and unlined, though, so you might want to add a slip. I haven't felt the need but just throwing it out there.

Dress / Jacket (similar) / Sneakers

This dress should also look familiar from last summer. It's so cute. It has a defined waist, adjustable straps, and is fully lined. I like that it's feminine without showing too much. To keep it nice and casual for school, I added my white denim jacket and white faux leather sneakers.

Sweater / Pants (similar)

I don't know why I didn't take a picture of this full outfit, but this will have to do. These are those 'office sweatpants' that Target had last year. They are amazingly comfortable, like wearing pajamas, but still look professional. These are navy blue with a white stripe. I decided to go for an all-blue look this day with this short-sleeved, light blue sweater. I cannot remember what shoes I wore.

T-shirt / Skirt / Sandals

This pretty yellow floral skirt is one of my favorites from last year. I don't wear it often, though, because the material is so delicate. I've actually torn it once already and had to repair it. Anyway, in the past I've kept things pretty simple with this skirt, but this go 'round I paired it with this mushroom t-shirt. The green was a nice match with the green in the skirt, and it felt like such a 'me' outfit. I couldn't decide what shoes I wanted to wear so I went neutral.

T-shirt / Skirt (similar) / Sneakers

I could not resist this trippy MTV graphic tee when I came across it the other day. I love the colors and the psychedelic feel of it. I'm not sure what my thought process was for pairing it with this green checked skirt, but I don't hate it. It feels very summery to me, and I've been looking for more ways to wear this skirt.

Shirt (similar) / Jeans / Shoes (similar) / Headband

I 100 percent copied this outfit from one I wore last year. There are a few differences, but not many. Instead of boyfriend jeans, I'm wearing straight leg jeans. My belt, which sadly you can't see here, is different, and I added a pearl-studded headband to my uncooperative hair.

This shirt was such a good investment. I love the shape and the material. It's flattering and looks very put together. Unfortunately, since it's over a year old, it isn't available. They have an updated version, that I'm linking to, but I am not a fan. Neither are my shoes, which have this fun 70s vibe to them that I love.

What I Read April 2023

Some of my favorite authors released new books in my favorite series in April, so those dominated my reading for the month. I also finished a series that I started in March, continued another series, and read my One Woman Book Club pick...all while taking a week off from everything for Spring Break. That said, I only read seven books this month, but my book club pick took up a lot of time for me. I also tried and discarded quite a few samples, whose titles I don't actually remember.

 

Solitary Sinners and Fatal Felons (Saint View Prison)

Author: Elle Thorpe

It feels like I read these ages ago - that's how long this month has lasted. Anyway, as I said with book one of this series, prison stories aren't my typical go-to trope. However, this one was handled differently. Instead of it being all about bad guys, it was about a man who is wrongfully convicted of murder and his girlfriend and friends' quest to prove him innocent. There's also a side plot involving one of the character's sons. His biological father killed his mom and has been released from prison and is now vowing to take the child away.

I did have a few unanswered questions at the end of this series, so I'm left to wonder if the author plans a follow-up? It would make sense considering this is a spin-off of another series (there's some character cross-over but no spoilers and no need for prior knowledge).

The Last of the Stanfields

Author: Marc Levy

This was my One Woman Book Club pick for April. I was already a fan of Marc Levy, and this book did not disappoint.

Journalist Eleanor-Rigby receives a mysterious letter alluding to a crime her recently-deceased mother committed in her 20s and can't stop herself from investigating. Her search for answers uncovers a lot of secrets and leads her to George-Harrison, the son of her mother's dying friend who also received a letter stating his mom was part of the crime. The two team up to tackle the mystery together, growing closer through the process.

This book had multiple timelines, but they weren't always parallel. Only Eleanor-Rigby's parts were told in first person; every other character was in third, which I found to be an interesting choice. There were quite a few side plots that I felt had too much detail in that I wanted to know more about those particular stories even though they had nothing to do with the main storyline.

Three Dog Knight (Midnight Empire: The Tower)

Author: Annabel Chase

After surviving her mission from the royal vampires, London finds herself on a new case, this time at the behest of one of the wolves' council members. Something, or someone, is causing local wolves to go berserk, a condition thought to be isolated to one specific region. Now, those wolves previously afflicted with the condition find themselves cured. London has to track down whatever is responsible for the change and the person behind it all. And, of course, her new vampire shadow just has to tag along.

Just like with the first book, this one has a good bit of humor, especially considering the post-apocalypse trope. There's still no love interest, but it's pretty obviously building up to one, and a dangerous one at that. London is harboring a pretty big secret about herself that I assume will come into the light pretty soon. There's no way it'll stay secret through the end of the series. It feels like a pretty crucial plot point, no matter which way the author takes this.

Ruin (A Flawed Series)

Author: Auryn Hadley & Kitty Cox

I love the Gamer Girls series and its crossover series Shades of Trouble so much. In both there were characters I wanted more of, and this book definitely delivered with characters from both of the other series making appearances both big and small.

This series is about the members of Ruin, a hacktivist group we met in the Gamer Girls series, although I can't remember which book it was. It's mostly from Jericho's point of view, but we get a lot more of Knock, who was one of my favorite characters from the other books that I wished got more page time. Timeline wise, I believe this story starts around the second book in the Gamer Girls series but I'm not sure how far through that series it happens. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Much Ado About Murder  (Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries)

Author: Steffanie Holmes

I don't know how I didn't know that this series was continuing. I really thought it was over with the defeat of Dracula, but my favorite book-characters-come-to-life have more mysteries to solve. In this installation, the village of Argleton is hosting a Shakespeare Festival complete with a pop-up replica of the famous Globe Theater and one of Shakespeare's famous First Folios. When the owner of the folio turns up dead, Mina swears she's going to leave the investigating to the police, but when Quoth pleads with her to take the case she quickly relents and the game is afoot.

Just like with all the other books in this world, the villagers are as quirky as Heathcliff is grumpy, and anyone can be a suspect. I do feel like this book had steamier love scenes than the others in an almost-but-not-quite-distracting sort of way. A new character is also introduced, a character that has her own spin-off series in which the Nevermore characters all make appearances. I have not read it and currently have no plans to. Ghosts aren't really my thing.

The Wolf Witch (The Coven saga)

Author: Chandelle LaVaun

This standalone sucked me right back into the world of The Coven, and I may have restarted the first book. This book is all about shifters, focusing specifically on a witch-shifter hybrid who was prophesied to be the Priestess of the Pack, Inez Alvarez. Just like with pretty much every Coven storyline, soulmates are involved, and it follows the same over-arching plotline that Lilith is rising. Of course the shifters will be playing a role in the battles to come, and Inez will have an important part in that. I am rather impatiently waiting for the next book in this saga.

An Honest Review of Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

I tried that viral TikTok mascara, and I have some thoughts.

I've been using the Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara that went viral on TikTok and has thousands of five-star reviews for about a month now, which I feel is enough time to provide legitimate feedback. As with all of my honest reviews, what you're about to read are my own opinions.

First things first: I was not approached by any company or brand to review this product. I simply kept seeing this mascara on all the lists all the time. One of my close friends even recommended it to me. So, I decided to give it a shot.

What you need to know about me, especially for those of you who are new to the blog, is that I am a natural redhead. My hair tends to stay closer to the strawberry blond end of the red-hair spectrum, meaning my eyebrows and eyelashes are extremely light. In fact, if I don't color in my eyebrows or apply mascara, I look completely different. On top of that, my lashes are super short, and I am always on the lookout for a product that makes them more visible without being gunky.

So let's get started!

This mascara has several variations that you can try, but I went with the green one. Some things to note about this version are that it's not waterproof and it only comes in black. I ordered from Amazon for less than $5.

My first impression on opening the package was how pretty the tube is. It's curvy like a woman's body, and the top is designed to look like a corset top. It's the same size as other mascaras I've used but is packaged differently. It was shrink-wrapped, and that shrink wrap was a pain to remove.

This may just be me, but why does it come out so gunked up? I have to wipe the wand multiple times, every single time, to remove all the excess before I can even apply it. In fact, I recently removed a ton from the handle part of the wand so it wouldn't be wasted.

I'm left wondering if the tube I received was missing a piece. It definitely does not have the scraper thing I'm used to in other mascaras. Is it even meant to have that part?

At any rate, I'm not a fan of the gunkiness.

Earlier I mentioned how practically non-existent my eyelashes are when bare, so I wanted to show you a before-and-after effect. You can clearly see the difference between right and left. However, is this a false-lash effect as promised? I'm not seeing it.

I had to apply several coats for this final product, as well, and I feel like I go over my lashes a lot more to keep clumps from forming than with other mascaras I've used, possibly because of the super gunky wand? I'm not really sure. I'm not a makeup expert by any means.

This is both eyes done and after attacking them with a lash curler, which is a tool I largely avoid using, but with this mascara I feel like my lashes need that extra help.

Anyway, here's my final verdict. This mascara definitely makes my lashes thicker, although I feel like I'm battling clumps the entire time I apply it. It does not give me any length, or volume I guess I should say, and while it didn't necessarily promise volume it did promise a false-lash effect, which I feel like implies thickness and volume.

I do like the way my lower lashes turn out with this mascara. They are definitely much more visible and defined, but I can't say that I don't get that same effect from my usual go-to mascara.

Now for the one thing that is my deal breaker -- the smudging. Every single day I end up with raccoon eyes. I even went a few days without eyeliner to be sure that it was the mascara. Yep.

So, for me, this mascara is a one-and-done, at least in this variation. The waterproof version might work better.