If you haven't gotten the idea, March 2020 has been one of the worst months of my entire life. I didn't think March 2016 (the year my dad died) could be beaten but this is a close one. I got dumped, totally blindsided by the end of a relationship I thought was beautiful and strong. Then, the entire world decided to explode.

I think I'm speaking for a lot of people who would say this month is the worst we've had in a while. I mean, the world truly feels like it's ending and I keep expecting Katiness Everdeen to appear on my screen. All jokes aside, it's a really scary time in the world and I'm very fortunate to have a job, a healthy family, a roof over my head, and a creative outlet to help keep me occupied.

I said recently that I was having a hard time with the quarantine but the past few days haven't been so bad. I've been talking to my friends more, organizing and cleaning, working out -- a little routine really does make all the difference. Another change I made was to be a little more mindful of what I was eating. For the past two weeks I kind of have been all over the place in terms of a diet but the past few days, I've started tracking my Weight Watchers points again and I think that has helped level out my anxiety a bit.

It's all a struggle, truthfully. We are all in the same boat and in theory, that does help me feel a little better. I hope you are all staying safe, staying indoors, and staying healthy. As always, I'm here if you need to talk.

On a lighter note, I've loved a lot of things this month and I'm excited to share them with you!

The highlight of the month was being asked to be a bridesmaid for my BFF since I was 5 years old. She gifted us astrology themed items, like in the photo above!

Skyn Iceland Hydrogel Eye Patches

These eye gels are no stranger to the blog. They have been my favorite under-eye patches for years! I've tried other types and while they are good, nothing compares to Skyn Iceland. They are a bit expensive: $30 for 8 patches, which is why I buy them whenever they are on sale. I now put these eye masks in my skincare fridge and use them in the morning as I'm getting settled at my desk. They make my entire face feel awake and help with any puffiness (I've been crying a lot and not sleeping so these have been a lifesaver). The difference between Skyn Iceland and other brands is that they are formulated for stressed skin, and they are a little thicker than other brands. They aren't gel and aren't overly soaked with product, so they actually stay on your face without slipping and sliding all over the place. They are a true game-changer and my go-to product.

Roku Express Streaming Stick

I'm not sure if I mentioned this previously but back in November, I purchased a Roku Streaming Stick to turn my very old television into a smart TV. I wanted it primarily for Disney + but it has so many more capabilities, like Prime Video & Hulu. In times like these, it's been heaven sent! I love that I can lounge in my bed and watch pretty much everything and anything without having to go into the living room where our Smart TV is. I love mine so much I bought one for my mom to use in her room; she's been really into Netflix shows and wanted to watch Hulu & Prime as well so it's good for her while we're all stuck at home. It's very easy to hook up, easy to navigate and it was $30, which is the best part.

A to Z Mickey Bracelet

The one thing making me incredibly happy right now is all things, Disney. You know that I've had my moments with a Disney obsession but right now, I am fully in the midst of it. One of my favorite Disney themed pieces I picked up during the month was this gorgeous, handmade bracelet from the small shop, Shop A to Z. The bracelet I have is called the Zoe bracelet, and it' has gold filled beads and a small, pink Mickey/Minnie head. It's super well made, adorable, and adds the touch of magic to any bracelet stack. The shop is run by my favorite Disney influencer, Zoe, and her style is truly everything.

Touchland Hand Sanitizer

This is a no brainer this month but I actually purchased this in February, before we knew what exactly was going to happen. Well, it's been a lifesaver and it's pretty dam adorable. I've been meaning to buy a Touchland sanitizer for a while because of it's aesthetic, the scents, and the spray feature. I have always loved the idea of a spray sanitizer and this lives up to the hype. It's a little bigger than your average bottle of sanitizer but it's thin so it fits most places. It's easy to use on the go and I think that's what I love the most. It also blends seamlessly right into your hands so you don't have any wet residue left over. Keep an eye on their website & Ulta for when it comes back in stock.

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe day! 
xoxo
B

This is coming a few days late but it was a rough week/weekend. When is it not in our new normal, though? If I'm being honest, it hasn't been that bad, I've just been lazy. Work was super busy this week and it kept me incredibly occupied, and then Saturday night I had a Zoom Hangout with my friends and wow, it felt so good!

It's so strange how normal seeing my friends and talking about nonsense made me feel. My sister and I also ordered some delicious food both Friday & Saturday so it was a delicious treat.

What I've realized is that my routine is pretty normal; I work at home 5 days a week and then shower, relax and do nonsense and now my weekends are the only time I need to adjust. I'm going into week 3 of quarantine and I'm a little used to it, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

While I didn't do a lot of blogging this weekend, I did a lot of cleaning and organizing which is what I really wanted to do. I'll continue this trend this week... I love organizing and cleaning so it's a great way to calm my mind.

On another note, I do have to tell a story. I had to run into Manhattan this week to get some stuff from my office. If you have ever been to Manhattan, you know it is always busy. They don't call us the city that never sleeps for nothing!

I don't think I have ever seen the city so quiet. It was eerie... like something out of a movie. The only people on the street were from UPS or the post office. I have never and probably will never experience anything else like that in my life. That's what really shook me this week and probably made everything a touch scarier.

Right now, I'm catching up on Youtube videos, under my weighted blanket and feeling a little under the weather. Hopefully, I find the energy and right headspace this week to blog more and not be as anxious and depressed as I have been.

Links to Love

• A tidbit about influencers & the pandemic
• The beauty editors guide to the best sheet masks 
• What doctors use to strengthen their immune systems
• An interesting article about anxiety during this time
• Selfcare you haven't thought of yet
• How to get a job in marketing

What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week

xoxo
B

I've waxed poetic about Lauren Layne before, mostly her Central Park Pact series so when I got the chance to read her latest book, "Yours in Scandal" before it hit shelves a few weeks ago, I was ecstatic.

When you look into it, Lauren Layne has written a ton of books. I mean, this year alone she will publish at least 3 novels which is more than other authors from what I can see.

"Yours in Scandal" is the first in Layne's new series "Man of the Year". Her second book in the series is going to come later this year which is super exciting.

Publisher's Summary

My Thoughts

I'm someone who loves to stay home. I'm never bored and always find ways to entertain myself. When I was younger I was able to stay in my room for hours without coming out for air. In one of my houses, my room was in the basement that also had its own bathroom and a mini kitchen. My mom didn't let me keep food in the kitchen because she knew that I would never go upstairs and see her.

The introvert in me has always found a way to stay home; I cancel plans a lot, I love a relaxing Friday night in and would always choose pizza delivery over a dinner out.

Most people would think this quarantine is a dream come true but I'm having more difficulty than I ever thought. It's really hard to stay in the house, to work from home day after day and enter new territory where your entire company is remote. It's hard to see people lose their jobs, lose their lives.

This isn't normal life and it's really freaking hard right now. We can't leave the house, we can't live our normal lives and there is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty surrounding us. What I find most difficult right now is not having an end date. We don't know how long this is going to last and that is enough to frighten everyone.

I shared last week my work from home tips but this week I wanted to share some tips on how to keep yourself busy.

Personally, I'm working from home Monday-Friday from 9-5 (maybe earlier, maybe later on some days) and afterward, I try to keep a schedule of dinner, showering, TV, working out, blogging, etc. This past weekend was hard since my usual plans were out of the question. I cleaned a lot, started watching Little Fires Everywhere, and read about 2-3 books.

There are so many things I could keep myself busy with during the day, when I'm not working. However, anxiety and depression is kind of preventing that right now but once I get that under control, I have a list of things to do.

If you're feeling like me, these are some small things I thought of that could help pass the time.



If anyone is struggling with their mental health right now or just need someone to vent too, please DM me on Instagram or reach out via email (briana@royallypink.com)

PS: Don't forget to follow me on LikeToKnowIt

Have a great day!
xoxo
B

I've been in the mood to try something different for my manicure and when I stumbled upon these Dashing Diva Ulta Shine Gel Strips, I was intrigued. I have tried different nail stickers in the past and wasn't that impressed; they were difficult to put on, felt heavy and bumpy on my nails, and just didn't look great. However, I had really enjoyed press on nails and these stickers seemed similar enough & had great reviews.

I got the shade 'Glitter Glamour' and they are supposed to mimic gel manicures. I'm not a fan of gel manicures because I don't feel like they're worth the money and I like to change my polish too much. I figured these stickers are a happy medium.

Off the bat, the Dashing Diva Gel Strips were very easy to apply, easier than the other stickers I've used. You just apply the right size sticker to your finger, press it down gently and then file off the excess. It was super easy and took less than 10 minutes!



The only downside to these packs is that they don't come with enough of the same pattern so you can't have the same color/pattern on every nail. I mixed them up and had a different sticker on every nail. I LOVED how the different designs looked and I got so many compliments on them. It was so different from anything I've ever done and obviously a lot neater; I loved the designs the most, obviously, because I would never be able to do something like that with nail polish.

The strips are meant to last 14 days and mine lasted about 8-9 but only because I started picking them off. As I was picking them off, they came off in one strip, without any nail polish remover. My nails aren't damaged from them and feel pretty strong after having a nice break from actual polish.

I really want another pair of Dashing Diva Gel Strips but have to decide what design/pattern I want. I still have leftover from this pack and will probably apply them at some point.

If you are looking for something fun, easy and quick to apply and aren't that skilled with a nail polish brush, I highly recommend Dashing Diva Gel Nail Strips. They are pretty outstanding and a total game-changer.

xoxo
B

That's it. Cancel 2020. I'm over it. I left my house once this week, last night, to go to the grocery store and drop off laundry. Things are hard, and my family & I are healthy so I can't even imagine how those who are sick feel.

I feel really hopeless right now and then I feel guilty for feeling like that. There's just so much happening, it's very overwhelming and scary. Even when this is all over, life isn't going to be the same and I'm still nursing a broken heart. I'm just at a loss for words.

I hope you all are staying a little more positive than I am. If you want to talk about it, leave a comment below, email me or DM me on Instagram. Let's help each other.

I'm currently catching up on This Is Us and will maybe start reading American Royals (finally) but for now, let's end it here and get to the post.

Links I Loved

• Shopping can solve all of our problems
• What is an essential business?
• Items that will help us all work from home
• There is drama at The Wing and it's very interesting

What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week

I have been loving my Kindle since purchasing it a few months ago and it has really changed my entire reading routine. I have been reading so many books, especially in the past few weeks with being stuck in the house and needing a really great distraction.

When I purchased the Kindle, I was able to score a free trial of Kindle Unlimited and I was pretty excited about it. I've thought about purchasing Kindle Unlimited but never really saw the intrigue; I didn't see a ton of books I would want to read until I started actually using it.

My trial ended in November and I've been paying for the subscription ever since.

If you don't know what Kindle Unlimited is, it's a subscription service offered by Amazon where you pay $9.99 a month and get access to thousands of e-books. You can 'rent' up to 10 books at a time and when you're done, you can return them to make more room.



A lot of the books on Kindle Unlimited are by unknown authors, self-published or books you may not think about reading. However, there are a ton of books that are very popular, like all the Harry Potter books, the Hunger Games series, and a ton of Alice Hoffman books. Kindle Unlimited was how I was able to read 'Practical Magic' and 'Rules of Magic' back in October.

Another great feature of Kindle Unlimited is that certain books come with Audible audiobooks so you can listen and read at the same time. If you've been around for a while you know that audiobooks are my favorite! I used to listen to them all the time and read a ton of books that way so having this incorporated right into a Kindle Unlimited subscription is a great perk.

Aside from books and audiobooks, you can also gain access to a lot of magazines through Kindle Unlimited. It's not a perk I have personally used but I like knowing it's there if I want... and who knows, during these social distancing times, I just might.

Some of my favorite books and authors are currently on Kindle Unlimited, like Lauren Layne and Colleen Hoover. Verity is currently on Kindle Unlimited so in my opinion, it's worth it for that title alone.

If you are spending a ton of money on books, especially during the next few weeks, I recommend trying out Kindle Unlimited. Look into if you're eligible for a free trial and look through the catalog to see if it's something worth it to you.

For $10, you would probably spend more on books right now so try it out! The good thing about Amazon is that they make it super easy to cancel so you wouldn't have to worry about that.

Have any of you tried Kindle Unlimited? What did you think?

PS: I'm now on LIKEtoKnowIt -- please follow me on the app!

xoxo
B

You are going to see a lot of these posts from bloggers, influencers, and freelancers -- those who work from home all the time. I fall outside of those categories as I work from home part of the time but have been doing it for quite a long time.

I've had a handful of jobs since graduating from college and because of the nature of them, all being in the social media field, I was able to work from home when needed. In my new company, we're allowed to work remotely once a week and it's the ultimate perk.

When I was unemployed last year, I was still freelancing so when I wasn't interviewing, I tried to structure my days and give myself a schedule. That taught me a lot about working from home. However, doing that on the regular vs working remotely temporarily, in the middle of a pandemic and national emergency is very different.

Everyone is feeling panic and being stuck in the house all day, with nothing but the news and social media to rile you up isn't the best. This isn't a normal work from home situation because people are stuck together; whether you have roommates, a family, your spouse or your kids -- everyone is at home and it's going to make things a bit more difficult.

My sister and I are both working from home right now, my mom is in and out with a weird work schedule so I definitely can understand the frustration of everyone being in one space. I'm hoping I can instill a little wisdom, give some advice and help you in some way during this difficult time.

Set Boundaries

What is important for me when working from home is to make sure everyone knows that I am actually working. This isn't a day off, it's just working from your house. If you're working from your bedroom, shut the door. Don't tell anyone you are available for errands or household chores... make sure your family understands that you are working. When you set those boundaries, (if possible, if you don't have kids or someone who needs attention), it makes things much easier.

Get Out of Bed

I would be lying if I said I had never worked from the comfort of my bed but it's not productive and it's not good. The key to working from home is to not be in bed. Sure, you can sleep a little later because you have no commute but get out of bed and MAKE your bed so you are not tempted to crawl back inside. If you need somewhere more comfortable to work or perhaps you're having a slow day, head to the couch or a comfortable chair, maybe even sit on the floor but do not get in bed.

Try to Stick to Work

It is very tempting to do other things when you're at home; things are naturally going to be slower because you don't have the distraction of in-person meetings, co-workers or other office happenings so you feel like you have extra time. Don't get into the habit of showering in the middle of the day, doing housework, or working on your side-hustle. Do feel free to set aside time for breaks and if you wish to do something else on a break, fine but don't get sucked into doing less work when working from home. It'll keep you on schedule and show your boss that you are as serious at home as you are in the office.

*Everyone says to get dressed and put makeup on but most days I spend in my pajamas. It doesn't make me feel more productive when I'm dressed but if I do feel a little gross, I'll throw on leggings and a sweatshirt. Yesterday I even put on a little makeup but like I said, this isn't a normal WFH situation.

Share your tips on how to successfully work from home in the comments below!
xoxo
B

PS: I finally got approved for LiketoknowIt -- please go follow me!

I haven't taken this much time off of the blog in a very long time. I've been dealing with a lot... 2020 is not what I thought it was going to be and it's only March. There is so much happening in the world with the Coronavirus, I'm working from home for at least the next week, and you can't buy hand sanitizer anywhere.

The panic is completely overwhelming and quite frankly, I cannot handle it.

However, that's not why I've been absent. I got broke up with last week and I've been completely preoccupied with my feelings and trying to figure out what went wrong. I was blindsided and didn't see it coming, and I'm in a lot of pain. I thought I knew what heartbreak was but I can confidently say I have never felt anything like this before. I feel like there is a hole in my chest and an ache I cannot subdue. I don't think I'd wish this kind of heartbreak on my worst enemy.

Mix that up with the climate of the world, a broken family from my aunt's death in January, and general life anxieties and I'm just not in a good place.

Even with the virus and the fact that the nation is under a state of emergency, I'm hoping that the week at home will do me some good. Maybe I'll be able to find some peace, get some sort of normalcy while relaxing and decompressing.

I haven't been myself for the past two weeks; I've been really depressed and anxious. I can't stop crying -- it's just bad. I haven't blogged, haven't done any sort of self-care and really don't feel like myself. The good news? I've finished three books! There is nothing like the escape of a good book.

As horrible as the coronavirus is, that has been a distraction as well. I wasn't really that concerned until Wednesday night, I think that's when a lot of people started to really take it seriously. Of course, I practiced basic hygiene (I always do) but I started to get nervous after they canceled the NBA season, for some reason. It's a very strange time in the world and I just hope everything calms down soon.

Being at home this week, I hope I can back on a blogging schedule and throw myself into creating content. I think it'll be good for me but I can't promise anything.

I hope you all stay safe and healthy, please practice social distancing!



Now, for the links!

Links I Loved

• Wellness products with a cult following
• An expert's guide to using Vitamin C
• The best moisturizers on the market, I especially love the Botanics Simply Calm cream
• French girl beauty is my obsession
• How to work from home during the pandemic 
• Are you doing these unproductive habits?? 

What I Bought

Please, everyone, stay safe. 
xoxo 
B

This is a very late post but last week was rough and the weekend was even weirder. While there were really special moments over the weekend, like wedding dress shopping for my best friend and a baby shower for my new cousin, I was anxious and slept a lot. Therefore, got nothing productive done.

Over the course of 36 hours, I napped for about 8 of them, outside of regular sleep. That's why my favorites post is a few days late...

None of these items were purchased this month but I used them so much; the beauty items have made a huge difference in my skin and the other items make me incredibly happy.

Let's get into them...

Summer Fridays CC Serum

I've been in the market for a Vitamin C serum for years now but felt like nothing really fit what I was looking for, that is until Summer Fridays released theirs. I love everything Summer Fridays puts out so I was super pumped about a vitamin C serum. I've been using it pretty consistently over the past few months and have noticed a major difference in my skin. My dark spots are lighter, the texture is pretty much gone and my skin does look a little brighter. I really wanted it to even out my skin tone and it has succeeded at doing that, without any weird reactions. It's a must-have in my routine now.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

To go right along with my CC Serum, my other favorite beauty product of the month are the FAB Facial Radiance Pads. I only have a sample of them and don't use them as religiously as I would like but wow, do they make a difference. When my skin is breaking out or texture is just too much to handle, one swipe of these across my face and my issues are gone. They're soaked in lactic and glycolic acid which helps exfoliate, tone, and brighten so pretty much are a miracle worker. If you're having any sort of skin issue, I highly recommend these pads as I think they will change everything.

The Five Minute Journal App

At the beginning of the year, I wanted to find a way to reflect every day. While I try to use a physical journal a few times a week, I thought a gratitude app or something similar would help me get more into the habit of daily journaling. I don't know where I heard of this app but I have become obsessed with it. The Five Minute Journal App allows you to reflect daily, both in the morning and night. In the morning, you write out what three things you're grateful for, how you will make the day great, and a daily affirmation. For the night journal, you say three amazing things that happened, and how you could've made that day better. You also are able to add a photo and you get daily inspirational quote prompts. It's just the best way for me to take a few moments in the morning and night and reflect on what I experienced and will experience.

Disney Lenox Figurines