August is OVER. Summer is OVER. Bring on fall!! I'm so happy to say hello to my favorite time of the year and feel like myself again. Yet, the summer was good for me. I had so much fun with my friends, relaxed, worked on my mental health, and feel like I'm in a great place.  

I'm ready to welcome the fall with open arms and feel better than ever.

That being said, in August, I loved a lot of things as I always do. I tried to keep shopping to a minimum and it worked well for the most part but somewhere along the way, I forgot I was trying to do that. September though, that might be where it's at. No, Spend September... we shall see. 

For now, let's dive into my favorites of the month! 

Stoney Clover x Disney Collection

I cannot get over this collection! It might be my favorite SCL collection aside from cozy. I love Disney so much and over the month, this collection has instilled more of a love than ever before. Stoney Clover Lane partnered with Disney to release seven princess prints, and one all princess print, in various sizes and styles. I had a hard time picking what I wanted but I knew I definitely needed something Aurora and Belle because they're my favorites.

I ended up with a large Aurora and small Cinderella pouch, along with some Cinderella patches and a Belle scrunchie. A few days later I decided I needed a Belle notebook for my fiction writing because Belle=books and someone were able to purchase for me in-store. 

We haven't gotten word of a to restock date yet but the full collection will be restocking. For that, I'll probably pick up a Tiana small pouch and a Snow White large. The prints are so beautiful and really stand out; they all have the princesses and then some additional side characters and other things related to the movies. It's so sweet and perfect for carrying some Disney magic with you every day.

iPad Mini

I feel like every few months I discover that I have an iPad and become obsessed with it again. It's very odd but I think a lot of people do it. I've been using it alongside my laptop during work hours and it's just so handy. I like to multi-task so having another screen is great. I also subscribed to Apple News+ because I've been wanting to just brush up on my reading of world news and my lifestyle websites. I feel so at peace and myself when I'm reading the news, it's so nice. I just love my iPad so much and it's so great to get used to it.

I'm really wanting to buy myself a bigger one, not sure why, but I really want one LOL 

Habit Tracker App

I am going to do a huge post on this app but I have to mention it here. For the past few months, I've felt the urge to establish better routines. I knew I wanted to improve my mental and physical health but I felt there were so many options or things I wanted to implement into my life... I just didn't know how to start or keep track. Enter this app called 'Habit' that allows you to input different habits you want to keep track of and check them off on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. It's completely customizable so you can set the frequency of the habit, the name, icon, etc. It's really like one big to-do list and because I feel like I get 'rewarded' *aka a burst of confetti at the end of the day*, I stay motivated to continue the habits. It has helped me so much in terms of a better wellness routine and just staying positive and on track throughout the day. It has completely changed my life. 

Truthfully, I don't have a lot of other favorites - these three things have been at the forefront of my mind since August 1st! 

What did you love this month?
xoxo
B

As I mentioned in the past two Manicure Monday posts, I'm working my way through trying some Olive & June polishes for the first time and that includes the newish Stoney Clover Lane collaboration with the nail polish brand.

This year, I tried the shade "KAG" named after one of the Stoney Clover founders, Kendall. "KAG" is a peachy pink shade with very neutral undertones. It's really beautiful yet simple in the bottle but once applied, it really comes to life.

Once again, I used the full Olive & June system, from start to finish and I noticed even more of a difference than with the other Olive & June polish from last week.

I started out with the nail strengthener, followed by the polish, and then finished it up with the Glossy Top Coat. I definitely think it made a difference in the longevity of the polish. I painted it on Sunday and it lasted, chip-free until at least Thursday but then I started to pick them. Even then, this polish didn't come off as easily as others.

Now, for the color... KAG is stunning! It's picture-perfect pink. It's what you think of when you hear the word 'pink'. It's creamy, rich, opaque, and just beautiful. I loved how it looked on my nails and it's a color I know will be a classic in my collection.. it's the color you wear to weddings and formal events or when you just don't know what to put on your nails.

It's a happy color, it made me happy to have it on my nails. I know that it's described as peachy pink but I think it's more baby pink, at least on my nails. 

As I said before, the polish is very opaque, goes on perfectly with no patches or skips, and looks beautiful on the nails. It didn't bleed onto my cuticles and stayed in place, while drying pretty glossy and great.

I cannot recommend the Stoney Clover shades in the Olive & June collection enough! I also highly recommend the entire mani system because it just can't be beat! 

xoxo
B

Friday is here once again! This week went super fast for a few reasons: work was manageable, fall drinks were back at Starbucks and I worked in my dining room all week.

I've been working in my room every single day since January and it was really time for me to change my scenery. Changing up the routine and leaving my room has helped me focus more, feel more relaxed through the day and decompress at night. It feels good to come back into my room at night and have that sanctuary back. 

I'm sure at some point I will crave going back into my room but for now, I'm very happy with my new routine.

I'm also very pleased that it's the second to last weekend of summer; next weekend I'll do my annual fall shopping trip, decorate and just bask in the glory of my season.

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

Pink Positivity of the Week

Fall drinks, of course, and I received some really positive, wonderful feedback at work that made me so happy and feel so appreciated!

Links I Loved

• How to take care of your skin when you're sick
• Stressing about work is ruining us 
• I'm dealing with some eyelid dermatitis and Byrdie has the best article on it 
• Olive & June's Fall collection is here and it's everything! 
• Hot girl summer was a lie and we believed it

What You Missed on Royally Pink

I have always been fascinated by millennials. I mean, I am a millennial but for my entire life, I've heard criticisms of my generation. We're lazy, entitled, anxious, depressed, etc. We are a generation that has inherited a lot of turmoil and has been surrounded by it our entire lives. We are the first generation to not be as well of as our parents. 

We watched thousands of people die on national television when we were kids, can't remember a time before the Iraq war, grew up with the mentality that we can do anything, were always busy, and then inherited the worst recession since the Great Depression. 

How are millennials NOT going to be burnt out, anxious and depressed?

That notion, that millennials are the burnout generation is fascinating and as an entitled, self-centered millennial, I love to get inside the psyche of my peers 

When I saw that this book, "Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation" was being released, I was really excited. It was exactly what I was looking for and the answer to all of my questions. The book was inspired by an article written of the same name, by the same author, in January 2019. 

I remember when the article was released, it took social media by storm. It was eye-opening and jaw-dropping so it wasn't a surprise that Petersen got a book deal out of it.  

The book was published in September 2020 and I immediately bought it. I read and finished it at the beginning of this year so I'm not sure why I haven't written a book review until now. 

 Three years ago I wrote about how I manage my finances and how I use Google Docs to do so, and that system still works for me. 

However, somewhere along the way, I knew I needed some automatic tracking to see where my everyday spending money was going. I've tried a few different apps, including Mint, but when I discovered TrueBill, I knew I had found the perfect app for me.

I wanted an app that I could hook every account up to, easily switch categories, create my own categories, and have a nice visual to it. I wanted something that was easy to understand and had a good user face. That is everything Truebill has to offer.

I've been using the app for the past two years, on and off, but recently got back into it so I figured it was time to talk to you all about it!

As mentioned last week, I've been all-in on Olive & June lately! I was going to use this week to paint my nails with another Stoney Clover collab color but I had some other Olive & June shades calling my name,

Back in July, I was shopping at Target when I saw a bunch of Olive & June on clearance. I picked up two beautiful, summery shades for less than $5 and they have been patiently waiting to be used. I figured before I dove into the more neutral SCL shades, I'd give these a whirl! 

This Manicure Monday is a little different in that I want to review the entire manicure, including the base and top coat which is also Olive & June.

Glossy Top Coat

I've been using the OJ Glossy Top Coat for almost a year (I think) at this point and I have to say, I love it. It makes the entire manicure come together and I feel like it kind of fixes any mistakes I might've made with the polish. The manicure just doesn't feel complete until I put the Glossy Top Coat on. It adds a ton of shine but also provides a nice protection layer and I think the manicure definitely lasts longer with this.

I've used this both on Olive & June polishes and other brands, and I think it works the same on all of them. Aside from Essie Gel Setter, which I haven't repurchased since having this topcoat, the OJ one is probably my favorite! 

Nail Strengthener   

I threw this into my cart when purchasing the Stoney Clover collection because I was in desperate need of something to build my nails up. This is another post that is coming but my nails were ruined after my first and only powder gel manicure and I needed something to help restore them. That's what the Olive & June Nail Strengthener is doing. I've used it three times now, once as a clear coat without any polish on top, and then twice with polish on top.

I definitely have noticed a difference in my nails. They aren't as brittle or soft and feel stronger than they did before I started using this polish. Aside from helping build up my nails, I do think it's helping keep the polish on a little longer than usual too so as a base coat, it gets my full approval.

I'm curious to try Olive & June's Ridge Filler and Nail Primer and compare how they stack up against the strengthener. 

Dry Drops

I topped off the polish with the Olive & June dry drops. I haven't been a fan of these in the past because I felt they were a little difficult to squeeze out and very oily. However, I used them anyway and liked them better this time, maybe because I got used to the bottle. They were very oily though but I think if you're a little more precise with application, you won't have a problem.

The drops definitely do help your nails dry faster and I think they're probably better versus other drying drops on the market. 

Now, onto the color, I painted my nails with this week! 

Fierce & Loving is a bright, lilac shade with pink undertones so it looks bright and fresh on the nails. I do think it's a little brighter and louder on the Olive & June website than it is in person but it's still gorgeous. It definitely is a spring and summer shade and reminds me of the Essie shade "Playdate" though I much prefer the OJ formula.

This polish went on very smooth, opaque, and not patchy in the slightest bit. I didn't have to build up the color or go over it a million times to make the color stand out. I've had the polish on for a few days now and it hasn't chipped or smudged. I'm pretty impressed because I'm quite hard on my hands and have been a little clumsy with knocking things over and bumping into things which usually chips my nails. 

I also am a big fan of the color... it's bright & fun without being too neon or overpowering. It almost seems like a neutral purple shade that would look good on anyone. 

All in all, a full Olive & June manicure makes all the difference. I definitely feel myself making the switch from Essie & OPI to exclusively Olive & June. I love the branding, the nail care products, and the colors! The formula is also superb and you can tell the difference versus the traditional drugstore nail brands.

Stay tuned next week for the continuation of the Stoney Clover and Olive & June collab! 

xoxo
B

 Happy Friday! I was really sick this week (the Covid test was negative thank goodness) but it knocked me out so badly. I worked from bed on Tuesday & Wednesday because I could not get dressed and sit at my desk. Then, Thursday I thought I was better but an hour into work and I had to call out sick. Today, I had already taken the day off so I have a solid four-day weekend ahead of me.  

Yesterday I spent the entire day on the couch and didn't open my personal computer nor did I even check my work email. I can feel myself burning out from life and the rest I got yesterday was exceptional. 

I watched TV, read books, and just let my mind relax. I'm planning on doing the same things this weekend because I'm still not feeling 100% and I feel like I still need some peace. 

There's not much else going on really...summer is winding down and once September hits it'll be busy again with bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and weddings. It'll be a great fall and I can't wait!

 

Pink Positivity of the Week 

In the past 17 months of working from home, I have yet to work from my bed. I am not productive in bed and I feel exceptionally lazy when I'm in pajamas all day. However, I felt so horrible this week and made the decision to work from bed, and oh wow it was a gamechanger. I stayed in my pajamas all day, wrapped in sheets, and watched television, all while getting my work done. While I was still working, being in my bed and in pajamas tricked my mind into resting as well. I have to give myself permission more often to relax while I work.

Links I Loved

• The drama behind Bookstagram
• How to make and use moon water
• Kendra Scott was the star of Bama Rush Tik Tok
• Overwork is killing us 
• Career habits to master in your twenties
• Why you need to declutter your desk right now

What You Missed on Royally Pink

• Book Review Wednesday: A Pho Love Story
• Manicure Monday: Olive & June x Stoney Clover Lane
• Fashion Files: Kate Spade x I Love New York Collection

What I Bought This Week

xoxo

B

I don't know where I discovered this book but I am so happy I did. There was something about the cover, the Romeo & Juliet type of love affair that came across in the description, that drew me in completely.

"A Pho Love Story" by Loan Le is a beautiful story about love, life, family, and culture... it made me so happy in so many ways. I simply adored the story! 

When I started Royally Pink in 2012, Kate Spade was my everything. That lasted up until a few years ago when I started to not like what the brand was putting out. It made me sad because Kate Spade spoke to me on such a deep level. Everything they were releasing was kitschy and cute, it was basically my personality at one point.

There was a moment in time when I was buying something from Kate Spade on a weekly basis and checking the website every single day. That ended when the new creative director took over in 2017. 

Well, that old creative director has since left and someone new is taking over and you can totally tell from the latest Kate Spade collections, including the reason for this post. 

Kate Spade's heritage is New York and over the years the brand has done a lot of different New York collections to show off that love. Well, the Fall 2021 collection is New York themed and it's the first time in a very long time I've fallen in love with a  Kate Spade collection. That in itself deserves a blog post, of course. 

I had to go looking through my Instagram for these KSNY photos

I've always loved taxis...

How adorable is this old NYC map tumbler?

I love this collection so much, it's taking everything in me to not purchase every single item but I will definitely be buying at least the Metro Card wallet. How cute for when I have to get on the subway again?! I also need the Taxi flats because I missed out on them the last time they were available a few years ago. 

Below is everything I'm loving from the collection and I just had to share! It's everything I love: New York, Kate Spade, and fun, quirky products. I also think this collection comes at the perfect time when New York is coming back from the pandemic and as we head into the 20th anniversary of 9/11. 

My passion for my city never falters and I'm so happy Kate Spade understands that. 

If you know me IRL or follow me on social media, my love of Stoney Clover Lane knows no bounds. It's a bit of an obsession, sometimes unhealthy but I've always had that kind of personality. I love the things I love, and I love them hard. I cannot help it! 

When I found out that Stoney Clover was doing a collaboration with one of my other favorite brands, and this time in beauty, I was over the moon. Olive & June has great nail polishes, many of which I've used and I've been getting back into over the past few months thanks to purchasing some new shades. I also love the branding and the community that Olive & June built, and that is how both brands are similar. 

The basis of this collaboration was that SCL created three exclusive shades for Olive & June and two different patches of Olive & June nail polish bottles. 

On top of that, you could buy the entire Olive & June mani system & all three polish shades bundled in a Stoney Clover Lane travel pouch with an exclusive "Nail Stuff" patch sewn onto the front.

I have enough SCL pouches and didn't want the entire mani system so I ordered all three individual shades from Olive & June's website. They arrived last week and I waited a few days (my nails have been in bad shape since a gel manicure removal) to use them.

Another roundup, another tiring week behind me. I simply don't know how I got through this week because the sheer amount of work I had to do was outrageous. I'm hoping things slow down soon because my days are just jam-packed.

However, I have been implementing some habits that have been keeping me sane and in a good mental state. I'm hoping to do a post on them soon and how I've been sticking to it and keeping track. It's such a game changer and I'm very thankful for that.

This weekend will be filled with family time, some side hustle work and I'm hoping for some good food, including ice cream. I just need a treat! 

I don't have much else to ramble on so let's get into it! 

I've been dying to take this picture with all my Barbie stuff!

Pink Positivity of the Week

I've been waking up early to go to the gym before work and it has a really positive effect on my day. I've been going to the gym daily, probably since June but I was going on my lunch break. Now, my days are too busy to leave my desk and I'm too tired to go after work so waking up around 7:30 to be at the gym at 8 AM is my new routine. I'm exhausted when I do it but it feels good to have something accomplished so early. 

Links I Loved

What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week

I'm trying to not buy a lot during the month of August and I was doing good until I saw a dress come back in stock on Nordstrom. I, of course, couldn't order just the dress and had to pick up two beauty products I've been dying to try. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

xoxo

B

Earlier this year I read "The Family Plot" by Megan Collins, a thriller novel that is set for release next week and I was obsessed. It's probably the best book I've read this year and somewhere along the way, I realized I had her other book "Behind the Red Door" on my Kindle from Netgalley. It was released last August and I'm so mad it took me so long to read it.

I flew through this novel within a day... I could not put it down for anything. It was unlike anything I've ever read before and I'm pretty sure it solidified Megan Collins as one of my favorite authors. 

 A few weeks ago I wrote a post about the newsletters that I love to read. Everyone responded really well to that so I figured I'd do a part two, in a way, with my favorite and most visited websites. If you didn't know, I am a very big reader not only of books but articles and blogs as well. I love staying informed, being entertained, and learning about different products, industries, and topics.

That's why I read so much on the internet, daily and I figured it was time to share the websites with you all. None of these are probably a surprise, they're very well-known publications that cater to adult women, mostly. I started reading some of them in college and have continued following them through adulthood. 

It's even been my immense pleasure to write for a few of these websites which is a real dream. Let's get into it!

Back-to-school shopping was always my favorite time of the year. I loved roaming the aisles of Staples, choosing my new pens, pencils, and notebooks, and making a fresh start for the new year. I've always been someone who loved writing, being organized, planning and having options when it comes to notebooks. 

I always have a pen on me and usually will have some sort of mini notebook or planner in my purse. I need to be able to write down a thought at any time of the day. It helps center me and stationery products are a big part of that.

I love to be surrounded by pretty paper, have countless notebooks for different things, and pens that write beautifully. It's the little things that make me happy and that definitely includes stationery products.

Over the years, I've tried so many different stationery products and I have actually had to really limit myself in what I buy because I accumulate so much. With working from home for the past year and a half, I've been using more stationery than ever, for so many different things, I figured now was a great time to share my favorites! 

Stoney Clover Notebook Covers

Sugar Paper LA Notepads

Kittenish Notebooks 

 Does anyone else go out, not drink a lot/not get drunk and still feel like they are hungover? That's how I feel right now so I'm in bed, reading & watching Grey's Anatomy, trying to feel better. It was well worth it though because I celebrated two of my best friends getting married, with a lot of my college friends and it was a perfect night.

I was nervous leading up to it because I was scared that being around all my college friends would make me sad and depress me, making me miss that time in my life. Graduating from college was what really set off my anxiety and depression and it's a sore subject for me but I had an epiphany last night. It was a pleasure to be surrounded by so much love, so much fun, and the people who knew me at my best. It made me so grateful that we can all be together and it's like no time has passed vs being sad that I don't get to see them every day and party every weekend.

It was almost like letting go of the sadness surrounding that time and opening up to being able to feel the immense gratitude I have. It was amazing. I got home after 2 AM, woke up this morning at 8 AM, so I'm vegging out today. I have so many 'admin' tasks to do and I really want to finish up some books I'm reading. Tomorrow is another day where hopefully I'm more rested!

I hope you're all having a great weekend!

Pink Positivity of the Week

For sure, the highlight of my week was my friend's wedding. It was utter perfection in so many ways and I'm so thankful to have so many wonderful people around me.

Links I Loved

• Luxurious candles to try
• I love Main Character Energy
• The best stargazing destinations in the US
• What do we make of the Girlboss Apology era that is happening? 
• Drinking and crying on social can be good...for other people

What You Missed on Royally Pink

xoxo

B

 I'm a big fan of Ruth Ware and love almost everything I've read by her (with the exception of The Death of Mrs. Westaway). I've been falling behind in reading her latest releases so I'm definitely late to the game with "The Turn of the Key" but I had to review it anyway.

It's been on my 'TBR' list for a while so when I saw it available on Book of the Month, I decided to tag it onto one of my boxes. I finished it in only a few days, if that many, and truly loved this book. I was reminded why Ruth Ware is such an incredible author and why she is the queen of thrillers. 

Publisher's Summary

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the home’s cameras, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder—but somebody is.

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, The Turn of the Key is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

My Thoughts

I have spent most of my adult life looking for the perfect pair of jeans. I don't wear jeans often mostly because I spend my days in leggings and because I have never found jeans that fit me just right. For a while, I thought that American Eagle jeans were perfect for me because they fit right, were decently priced, and held up nicely.

That is until they started to fit me weird, stretch too much and be so uncomfortable. I realized I needed to find something better and maybe invest in better jeans. I wanted jeans that looked amazing on me, that felt good, and were high quality. My thighs are thick and I'm a bit curvy so I figured it was time to invest in something better than $60 jeans. 

 It's August which means that summer is almost over and it's time to welcome the best season ever. I truly wait for August all year because it means I am one step closer to the fall, one step closer to Christmas, and one step closer to being the happiest I am all year.

If you're new, I will continue to write almost every roundup post with a similar sentiment until October so get ready!

July was a pretty solid month; I was on vacation in Mexico for a bit, spent time with family and friends, and just got a hold of my mental health and new work responsibilities. It was a resetting month in a lot of ways and for that, I'm happy to say goodbye to it. 

I still loved a lot of things this month, almost all of the new and sort of random! Let's dive right into it...

Skinny Confidential Hot Mess Ice Roller

When Lauryn Evarts Bossick aka The Skinny Confidential said she was coming out with a beauty product, it was no surprise that it was an ice roller. Lauryn has been talking about ice rolling and puffy face relief for years and I knew that this was going to be good. I pre-ordered the GTFO Of The Sun Kit so it came with the ice roller, the Ice Queen Oil, and her new book. 

I've never used an ice roller before but I have used Gua Sha and Jade/Rose Quartz rollers so I figured it was similar. Well, it's so much more. This ice roller is a beast, it's everything you could ever want and it's so freaking cute!

The roller stays cold for hours... literally. I've kept it on my bedside table for an entire day and it's still cold when you roll it on your skin. It feels incredible on the face and really helps depuff in the AM. It's also perfect for my puffy, tired eyes when my allergies are acting up. I've also used the roller on my legs after shaving because my skin is usually on fire afterward and wow, it was the best solution ever.

The special thing about this ice roller is the fact that the roller itself is metal so it stays cool for an extremely long time (Lauryn says it 'holds it's cold' which is so true) and the handle is designed to perfectly fit your hand, it has a thumbprint indent and everything. If you're serious about beauty tools, you need to get yourself this ice roller.

Glossier Balm Dot Com

Ello Glass Tumbler

Smart Sweets