TGIF! So happy for the weekend ahead and a four-day weekend for yours truly. I had a summer Friday today and I took a day off on Monday because Sunday is one of my oldest friend's weddings (!!!). This is the first postponed Covid wedding and I cannot wait to celebrate the bride and with all of my friends. It's going to be really wonderful and fun!

This week was a solid one; it was one of my better weeks in a long time. I felt really good, went to the gym every day, and completed so much on my to-do lists. I was really productive during the day and was able to relax at night. I don't know if it was because I wasn't putting a lot of pressure on myself or because of exercising every day but whatever it was, I need to keep it up. 

In addition to the wedding this weekend, I'm taking it easy. I'm doing some beauty prep like my nails, tanning, and my hair but also want to go to the gym, get some writing done, and just save all my energy for Sunday! 

I don't have much else to say so let's dive into the post!

PS: Make sure you sign up for my newsletter and follow me on liketoknow.it! I send out a newsletter every Sunday and usually revolves around pop culture... you can be sure as hell this week is all about Britney Spears! 


Pink Positivity of the Week

I found myself in a really good routine this week. I went to the gym before work every day and working out in the morning did so much for me. It was amazing to get out of the house pretty early and get the workout over with, instead of waiting around all day. I definitely need to keep it up! 

Links I Loved

What You Missed on Royally Pink


 I received this book, "The Last Place You Look" via a Net Galley arc and read it almost in one sitting a few months ago. It was published back in April so you can get it now, but I highly recommend it. Part of the title is "Butler & West Book 1" which refers to two of the main characters/detectives of the novel. Therefore, you can assume that there will be more to come out of Louisa Scarr, which I personally cannot wait for.



Publisher's Summary

The police are always on the right side. Aren't they?

DC Freya West has a secret. She has lost the man she loves, and if the truth gets out her career would be over too.

DS Robin Butler is haunted by a tragedy. As he and West investigate a seeming case of misadventure, she learns a shocking fact about him and must decide whether to reveal it.

Both detectives know it is only a matter of time until their lies are uncovered. Will they choose to keep each other's darkest secrets?


My Thoughts

This was an incredibly addicting book; as I said before, I think I read it almost in one sitting. It was incredibly written, kept you on the edge of your seat, and really made you wonder how the ending would come about.

This was the type of book where you had a good feeling of what the ending would be, all signs point to it, but you didn't know how you would get there. 

It was a really interesting, layered plot with so many deep, dark secrets, so many twists and unexpected characters -- it was incredible and kept my attention the entire way through. There was not a moment in this novel that was boring or slow. Also, it didn't feel like anything was unnecessary; sometimes there is an unnecessary subplot that doesn't add to the story and only takes up time but not here... everything was essential. 

I will admit, it was slightly confusing at the beginning as you get acquainted with all the characters and the plot but once you're in it, you're hooked. 

As for the characters, Amy is the worst of all time and Detectives Butler & West had amazing chemistry and were so likable. It made me really excited to read more of their story together. 

This was such a solid detective novel. It's a series that I would love to see through and continue to read and obsess over. If you love true crime, detective novels, and wild twists, you need to read "The Last Place You Look" by Louisa Scarr.

xoxo
B

Wedding season is officially kicking off and I'm honestly really looking forward to it. Last year, I was supposed to have a ton of weddings but that of course, got pushed back to this year. Now, starting this coming weekend is a marathon of weddings and I cannot wait. I have three weddings this summer, one in the fall, and then three next year.

That means I will need a ton of dresses, especially when the guests overlap, which they will occasionally. Dress shopping always stresses me out and makes me really upset. When I was younger and would go dress shopping for proms, dances, parties, I would usually end up hysterical crying, and having a panic attack. I hated how I looked in the mirrors, hated how the lighting made my skin look... it was just always a disaster.

Now, I just shop online and hope for the best. I've gotten a better understanding of what looks good on me and I can shop confidently, though with some hesitancy because I just can't shake the teenager out of me. 

What I've learned from blogging and social media is that weddings are different all over the country. Some are extremely casual, some are in the middle, and others are really high class and formal. Here in New York, they fall into the last category. I've never been to a wedding that wasn't over the top and extremely formal. They might not be black tie or even black tie optional but they're up there.


Once the warm weather hits, something inside me yearns for bright, neon colors. I'm pretty covered with the pinks and blues in the summer department but my collection was lacking in oranges and reds. Enter, Essie's Clambake.

Clambake was a classic shade from the mid-2000s that was discontinued a few years ago. I remember when it was discontinued and people went nuts. Since then, Essie has brought the shade back a few times and this year, I finally got my hands on it.

I never used Clambake when it was a regular shade and never really cared that they discontinued it. It wasn't that I didn't like the shade, it was just that it seemed kind of ordinary. It's very similar to Geranium and to me, seemed like a shade that I've seen before.

Well, this year Essie brought back Clambake for its 40th anniversary. I saw a display in my local CVS and I grabbed it immediately. The shade is stunning... so much prettier in the bottle than on the computer screen. 


It's an intensely hot, neon orange but with the twinge of red that just screams summer. Clambake is the definition of a summer nail polish shade. It reminds me of a beach vacation, of a hot Manhattan day, of laying by the pool. It's beautiful. 

As soon as I got the shade home, I painted my nails with it and was stunned. It's even more beautiful on the nails than in the bottle. Clambake applied really evenly, with no patchiness or spillage onto the cuticles. It went on super smoothly and was a real pleasure to apply.

The staying power was also pretty impressive; I think it was a little better than other polishes I have. When I took the polish off, most of it was still in place with minimal chipping. 

Essie said that the shade was only sticking around until May 29th so if you see it in the aisles of your local CVS, or come across it online, pick it up! Your nails will thank you! I wish I would've bought a few more bottles to keep stock of. 

xoxo
B


Happy Saturday! I'm so excited it's the weekend... I'm currently lounging in bed, watching old seasons of the Kardashians and trying to relax. It's Father's Day weekend, obviously, which is always hard for me so I'm going to spend time with family tomorrow and relax. 

The past week was really hard; I was super panicky and anxious every single day. Nothing seemed to go right and I just wasn't having it. I'm not sure why I've been so anxious the past few weeks but I've had a lot of panic attacks and just am not able to calm myself down. It's really frustrating because nothing has really changed and I can't pinpoint it.

I'm going to try my best to stay on the positive side of things, stay organized and on top of tasks while also having fun and being calm. We'll see how that goes! 



Pink Positivity of the Week

Is this really a positive, I'm not sure but it brings me joy! The entertainment news coming out of the Bravosphere has been wild. Every week there is something new happening whether it's Erika and Tom, Jen Shah, casting news, or just regular old feuding. For months it has been keeping the Bravo community together and it's so fun to have a little community to share these things with.

Also in entertainment news, Taylor Swift is releasing her version of Red in November! Red is my favorite album and I'm so excited for so many new songs and the 10-minute long version of All Too Well. That definitely was a bright spot this week! 

Links I Loved

What You Missed on Royally Pink


xoxo 
B

 Shari Lapena is one of my favorite crime authors. She writes what Crime By The Book calls popcorn thrillers- they're quick to read, really intense and you can easily finish them in one sitting which is exactly what I did with An Unwanted Guest. I purchased this on a whim when it was on sale at Barnes & Noble and inhaled the book in a few hours. It was a classic thriller novel where there's twists, turns, murder, romance... it was just so epically wonderful.

Publisher's Summary

A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away

It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.

So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.

Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead--it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic.

Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm--and one another.

My Thoughts

This was such a wild, unexpected ride of a book. It had so many well thought out and developed characters, a well planned plot and just so many twists and turns. It was very unpredictable, probably one of the most unpredictable domestic thriller novels I've ever read.

I loved the plot so much -- I mean, a bunch of strangers locked up in a hotel, during a snowstorm, and people start turning up dead? That's crazy! 

I truly could not pick out who the killer was... it was so well concealed. As you read, you definitely had your ideas of who it could be but you weren't sure. What was the motive? Especially since everyone was a stranger. Lapena did an excellent job at developing the characters and moving the plot along but keeping a lot close to the chest, almost like a classic 'who dunnit'. I think this would make an incredible mini series or movie. It was just so well written and such a good story. 

An Unwanted Guest was nerve-racking, kept me on the edge of my seat, and I simply could not put it down. One warning though, it was extremely graphic at times... probably one of the most graphic novels I've read in a while. 

When you first start reading, you're pretty unsure of where the story was going to go. Sure, you know the gist if you read the summary but there's only so much you can know from reading that. The book was so much more than you could ever expect.

The ending was especially unexpected... I didn't see it coming and throughout the novel, couldn't understand what the reasoning behind the murders were. Once you get to the end, everything makes sense. 

If you couldn't figure it out, I highly recommend this book. If you're looking for a fast, easy, enthralling thriller, you need to read "An Unwanted Guest" by Shari Lapena. I can't wait to read another book by her!

xoxo
B


 Olive and June is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands. They have been on their A game, releasing tons of new, innovative products like their nail care line and tools, such as their Cuticle Serum and The Poppy. I also am a big fan of their branding -- everything Olive and June does is very intentional and I really admire that.

One of my favorite Olive and June products are their nail art stickers. They were one of the first brands I saw do high quality nail stickers and they were so cute with them! I've always loved adding something unique to my manicure, ever since I was a little girl and would ask for a design on my nails. 

The stickers are an easy way to add something really cute and different to a regular manicure, especially if you don't know how to do nail art, which I definitely do not. 

Olive & June has so many different choices when it comes to the nail art stickers and have been consistently releasing more. I have quite the collection and have experimented with them over the past year and I really love them. 


My favorites are definitely the White Stars, which I think are the best sellers as well as the hearts which were released around Valentine's Day. I also have the fast food stickers, florals, and some winter/Christmas seasonal ones that I can't wait to wear next year. 

The quality of the stickers is really good; they don't tear easily and stay on pretty good once you put a top coat on. To apply the stickers, I let my nails dry and then use a tweezer to remove the sticker from the backing and play gently onto my nail. I follow up with a top coat and we're good to go.

If you want to add something fun to your manicures, I highly recommend using the Olive & June Nail Stickers. You can get really quirky with the stickers, like the food ones or keep it simple with flowers or stars. They're such a fun addition to any manicure! 

xoxo
B

Is it redundant if I say I'm happy the week is over? It was another tough one and the weekend is much needed. I was off from work today (woo summer fridays!) and I accomplished a lot: the gym, a pedicure, visited my grandpa and a ton of other random errands. 

The weekend will be spent at brunch and doing some writing. I'm hoping to get myself organized with a few different projects and find some peace because I've been really restless and unsettled the past few weeks so I need to get myself together. I feel like I say that a lot but it's true.

I'm currently in bed, watching Grey's Anatomy (again) and trying to check some stuff off my to-do list in a peaceful manner. I don't have much else to say so let's get into the round up! 

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Links I Loved


What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week




xoxo
B

I've always heard good things about author Tarryn Fisher and last year, I fell in love with her thriller novel, The Wives. That's why I was so excited when I heard she was releasing a new mysterious book called The Wrong Family. The book was published in December 2020, I purchased and read it a few months ago on my Nook. I finished the novel within a few days and it was totally not what I expected, though it was still a good book.


It's been 15 months since I started working from home and I really can't believe we're still here. While the pandemic is winding down (vaccines lets go!), a lot of us are still working from our bedrooms and might be for the foreseeable future.

There are dates on the calendar of when a lot of companies are going back to in-office work (probably sometime in the fall, that's when I'll be headed back) but I think the consensus is that most companies will have some sort of hybrid model going forward.

That means, some office workers will be half in person, half remote, which I'm all good with.  

Over the past year, we have all learned a lot about working from home and how we work best. I've realized so much about my work style while I've been on my own. I learned that I work really well alone, without distractions... and I don't think I realized how distracting an office could be. My situation is so different because I'm home all day, by myself, since my mom and sister are both working full time, outside the home. 

There are some days when I want to wear makeup, where I want to look a little put together but don't have the time or energy. There are some days when I am just feeling super lazy and wanting to look good quickly. I've figured out a few of my favorite 'lazy girl' beauty products that range from skincare to makeup.

Some days you just need a product that is going to be easy to use, easy to apply and still look great! I'm sure there are tons of other products out there that save time and energy but these are the ones I've tried and loved! 


 This week was so weird. Do I start these posts off like that every week? I think so! LOL We had a death in my family and it hit me hard so that definitely threw a wrench in things. The weather was weird here in NYC -- it was hailing on Friday, so that always throws me off. Plus, a short week always makes me feel foggy and confused. 

I'm thrilled that it's the weekend and that it's beautiful outside! I'm going to dinner with family tonight and then probably sit by the pool tomorrow. It feels so good to be able to relax and recharge this weekend. I have a lot of stuff running around in my head and I just need to get it out, write it down and think about it out loud which is what I'm using this weekend for. 

I spent last night binging Mare of Easttown and I'm almost finished! I'm so glad I avoided spoilers and decided to wait to watch it because it's the type of show I definitely wouldn't have wanted to watch week by week. It's so good and I highly recommend, especially if you like true crime. 

I will stop rambling now and get into the wrap up! Make sure you entered my anniversary giveaway and sign up for my newsletter. 



Links I Loved

What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week 


xoxo 
B

I've read one other Taylor Jenkins Reid book, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and really enjoyed it. However, I've heard so many wonderful things about her other books which is why I was so excited to be able to read her latest, "Malibu Rising" before it was published.

"Malibu Rising" was released yesterday, June 1st, but I read it a number of months ago and have been waiting for the day everyone else could experience what I did.

I read "Malibu Rising" in a few hours; once I started I could not get enough. It was super addicting and so well written and just a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story. It is definitely going to be in my top favorite books of 2021.


Did you know that June 1st is National Nail Polish Day? It was established by Essie a few years ago and it's such a fun day on social media! Everyone, including brands, are sharing their favorite nail polish shades and releasing new products (and even offering product deals, like all nail polish is 20% off at Target today!) 

If you've been reading Royally Pink for any amount of time you know how much I love nail polish and how much I enjoy doing my own manicures. If you've been reading for the past nine years, you have also seen how I've gotten better at doing my own nails (some of those MM posts from 2014 are rough). 

The irony of it being National Nail Polish today is that I have bare nails at the moment. My nails have been really thin and peeling as of late so I'm trying to give them a break. I still need to celebrate though so I'm sharing some of my favorite past Manicure Monday posts as well as my favorite nail colors of the moment! 

Manicure Mondays of Days Past

Favorite Nail Products

Within the widget, the shades I love are Essie's Bikini So Teeny, Pret-A-Surfer, Beachy Keen, Throw In The Towel, Angora Cardi. Then, for OPI, I'm obsessed with Bubble Bath! There are some must-have nail care items linked below too! 

xoxo
B

May felt like a really slow month and I'm not sure why. Nothing really happened in May but I did feel like I did a lot. It was the first month in a while that things felt normal; I went to a lot of parties (i.e: bridal showers, weddings, communions) and with the nice weather, it felt like the true start of summer which I'm not hating as much as I usually do.

Memorial Day Weekend was a wash out which I was fine with even though I was busy the entire weekend and as I'm writing this on Monday, I'm exhausted. I just woke up from a two hour nap and know I won't be able to sleep tonight.

Summer is kicking off hot with so many upcoming plans; I have a ton of weddings this summer and a trip to Mexico, my first vacation since I went on spring break senior year of college (that is if you don't count my Disney day trip in 2016 with my old job). I'm really excited for Mexico and can't wait to celebrate all my friends' marriages! 

Summer also brings summer Fridays and I can't wait for the long weekends. It'll be nice to have a few more days to myself to get blog stuff done and try to reframe my routines. Work from home is still going strong, if you didn't know and we'll be back to a hybrid model come the fall. Therefore, I'm going to take advantage of working from home for the next three months. I have really mixed feelings about the return to normal but that's an entirely different blog post.

For now, let's dive into everything I loved this month! All of these are rediscovered items in my collection and you've probably heard about them before but that's the beauty of favorites, they always come back around!



Stoney Clover Lane Silk Scrunchies

A few months ago SCL released silk scrunchies (and eye masks) and I was curious to try the scrunchies. I have my tried and true Slip Silk scrunchies and didn't see the point in switching but I'll try anything Stoney Clover puts out. Well, I've had the scrunchies for a while but really didn't start consistently using them until this month. I think I much prefer them to the Slip ones now. The SCL scrunchies don't stretch out as much as the Slip ones, keep their shape and I feel like they hold a lot more hair, because they are thicker and a little larger. My hair feels secure when in these scrunchies and they don't leave any creases which is probably the most important feature in my opinion. I will probably be purchasing these scrunchies over the Slip ones from now on.

Lele Sadoughi Headbands

This shouldn't be a surprise because I've talked about my love of Lele before but lately I've been into them again. These are the most comfortable, beautiful headbands I've ever purchased and will never purchase a different brand, ever. Nothing compares. They are well made, beautifully designed and so comfortable so I never get a headache or feel like the headband is annoying me. They aren't made of plastic, from what I can see so they don't tightly hug your head. I love how these headbands complete a look, add something special and are almost like putting a piece of jewelry on... it's an accessory in the best way! 

Stoney Clover recently partnered with Lele on a new Gingham collection and I picked up the Watermelon headband. It has crystals adorned on top and it's my first crystal headband from Lele... it's stunning. It's one of the most beautiful pieces in my collection and really ties any simple outfit together. I wear my headbands a ton in the summer because it's so easy to throw on jeans, a tee and one of these headbands for an effortless look. If you haven't purchased a Lele headband yet, I highly recommend you do! 

Kiss Instawave Automatic Hair Curler

This is a product I have definitely mentioned a ton over the years and I have a rediscovered love for my Kiss Instawave Automatic Hair Curler. Over the past few months I've attended a lot of parties and celebrations where I'm taking photos and I hate the way I look. It definitely is my weight (another blog post for a different day) but I think it was also my hair. I've been wearing my hair straight or with a curly blowout but a few weeks ago I decided to curl my hair with this iron and realized how much I love my hair after I use this iron. When my hair is curly, voluminous, and big, it balances out my fast and I just feel like I look so much prettier. 

This is the easiest and really only curling iron I use; it simply grabs your hair onto the barrel, applies the heat, and then beeps when it's done. Then, you unravel it and voila, you have beautiful curly hair. I never was able to use a regular curling iron so this automatic one is key. 

You could see all my Kiss Instawave posts here: 2014, 2018, 2019

Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac & Cheese



This is a completely random favorite but I can't get enough of this frozen meal. Sweet Earth Foods is all plant based frozen meals and this cauliflower mac & cheese is to die for. I discovered it in Target during the month of May and then found it at my local Stop & Shop. It's vegan (which I am not) and this dish is just so delicious.  It is literally just macaroni, vegan cheese, cauliflower, and breadcrumb. It has turmeric, sweet potatoes and other good-for-you ingredients 

I've purchased it like many five times over the past few weeks and I'm addicted. It satisfies my mac & cheese craving but I still get the nutrition of cauliflower and the protein of vegan cheese. PSA: I'm back on WW after quitting in January (more on that soon) and it's 8sp on the blue plan which is the same as my Trader Joes Guilt Free Mac & Cheese, but I feel as if the Sweet Earth version keeps me fuller longer.

What did you love this month?
XOXO
B

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