This was such a weird, long week. I woke up on Tuesday thinking it was Friday and that continued until Friday when I woke up and thought it was Saturday. My days are confused, I'm confused. I want to hibernate all weekend and I might do just that. 

April is going to be a really busy month - I have plans every weekend and I'm oddly not stressing about it yet which is strange. Usually I start dreading a busy month about 3 weeks before it starts but my anxiety hasn't caught up to my brain yet it seems.

I spent the better part of my week trying to get my Instagram account back but so far, no luck. Make sure to follow my new one.

I also spent the week feeling completely lost about where I want to take my social media and blog, and just feeling like I'm not doing enough. It kind of took over my brain in a weird way and then once Friday at 5 PM came, I felt better. I think because I've been going into the office more and my social life is picking up, it's hard to find a good balance between everything.

I also need to be better at holding myself accountable and sticking to deadlines; it's the only way I will get anything done.

I'll stop rambling now and we can get into the wrap up.

In 2021, I read Rachel Kapelke Dale's debut novel "The Ballerinas" and fell in love with it. It was incredibly unique, touching on an area of the arts that I love dearly, but with a very ominous twist. It left me wanting more and eager to find out what happened.

When I found out that she was releasing another novel, I was so excited. The Ingenue sounded so intriguing; the title and the cover were equally as inviting. I received an ARC from NetGalley and read it in late 2022, just in time for it to be released to the public in December 2022.

The Ingenue was just as wonderful as The Ballerinas and gave you an inside look at what it's like to be a child prodigy, and have those around you take advantage of it.

I am really loving the Olive & June Quick Dry Formula polishes; they really do dry extremely fast but they look just as good as their regular line of polish. There is virtually no difference in the actual polish aside from the quick drying factor. It's really insane how they invented the perfect drying formula.

I'm still so grateful that the Olive & June team sent me a package of the polishes back when they launched but I was in need of some darker shades, so I purchased Enchanted. I love a dark color that is almost black but with a twinge of the actual color coming through.

Do you ever feel like you're just floating through life without being tethered to the earth? That's how I feel right now. It feels like I'm walking through life with my eyes half closed and walking into walls and falling down. 

Last week, and over the weekend, was quite the disaster. I feel like I've been put through the ringer; there's been so many issues over the past week and I just want to get off the roller coaster ride. It's all been first world problems but it just feels like there's stuff hanging over my head that I can't control and my hands are tied behind my back. It's very uncomfortable and I'm having a hard time with it.

Medical issues, doctor's appointments, having my Instagram account be removed, feeling like I'm drowning in my financial situation and trying to show up for everyone and everything in my life. It's rough.

I'm trying to not dwell on it and occupy my time and mind with other things, like Bravo and books, but it's just a blah time.

I do have the day off today and going to see friends tonight, rest tomorrow and then a bridal shower on Sunday so it's a packed, but fun and relaxing weekend ahead.

Let's get into the post!

PS: If you haven't heard, my Instagram account got disabled at almost 3K followers. Please go follow my new account!

 I have followed Genevieve Wheeler on Twitter for years for her writing and commentary, so when I saw that she was writing a book, I was really excited. I included Adelaide in my 'books I'm excited about' blog post , and knew that it was going to exceed all my expectations. 

Truthfully, I didn't know what I expected but I don't think I expected for this book to change my DNA, for it to speak to my soul, to someone inside of me I didn't even know existed.

Adelaide is a book I dream of writing, one that touches someone's soul so poetically it alters their life. I cannot properly express how much I loved this book and I honestly think everyone needs to read it, to find a bit of themselves in Adelaide and to give them a different perspective on life.

The book is being released on April 18th and you should really preorder it right now. I had an ARC from NetGalley but am considering getting a print version to have in my personal library. 

 It has been quite the week for me! It started on Thursday when I had the most hellish eye doctor's appointment that you can read more about there. On Friday, I was riddled with leftover anxiety but was trying to keep my cool and stay present. I had an appointment with my chiropractor on Friday afternoon and that always feels like such a treat after a long week.

Afterwards, I was refreshed but felt myself fall into a bit of a depression and I went to sleep with what felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I woke up on Saturday morning with the same feeling but now there was a reason for it.

My Instagram account was disabled. 

This week was a doozy, for so many different reasons. Daylight Savings Time really kicked my butt, work was very busy, I traveled to the office, I had a few doctors appointments that needed switching, and it just felt like a week that was never ending.

Then, on Thursday, when I was just starting to look forward to the weekend, everything blew up. I had my annual eye doctor's appointment that I figured would be routine but it turned into a nightmare. I went to a new optometrist, when I usually go to an ophthalmologist and I'll never make that mistake away.

The doctor said that she saw something weird with the nerves in my left eye. I'm near sighted in one eye and far sighted in the other, so she was a bit concerned because it was the near sighted eye. She said the nerve was indistinct, but couldn't elaborate further. She wanted me to go to a doctor immediately, she did not want me to wait even an hour. She got me an emergency appointment in Long Island, I picked up my mom and we went with little information for what could even be wrong.

It was the scariest few hours of my life. 

When you get told something might be wrong with your optic nerves and you need to go see a doctor immediately you obviously think the worst. I had a few panic attacks, was hysterical crying and was so nervous. 

After a few hours of tests and lots of eye examinations that left me exhausted, everything turned out to be fine. My optic nerves are just weirdly shaped and there's nothing wrong with them. 

I came home from the doctors', stuffed my face with chicken cutlets and french onion mac & cheese, and fell asleep by 9:30 PM.

It was horrible and I'm happy it's over.

Let's get into the post.

 Last year I experienced intense back pain that left me unable to function for about two weeks. I got myself into a chiropractor and after a few sessions, along with at-home exercises and remedies, I was as good as new. The pain wasn't anything serious - just some inflammation, a slight case of scoliosis (which isn't even a big deal - that's how slight it is) and a bad at home desk set up.

I purchased a new desk chair, a new laptop riser, keyboard and mouse, along with tons of fluffy mattress covers to try to prevent new pain from coming through. It definitely helped and going to the chiropractor once a month has helped me stay pain free. 

At the chiropractor she uses a TheraGun on me, the industrial, professional size, and it feels so good so I started playing around with the idea of getting a mini one for myself to help with any pain that comes up at home. I also have dealt with chronic wrist pain since I was 16 years old and while the chiropractor helps, I figured the TheraGun would be a good tool to have in my arsenal.

I didn't get a chance to buy it for myself because my sister's boyfriend bought me one for Christmas! It was the best surprise and I've loved using it the past few months. 

I would say I've used it pretty regularly and have a decent understanding on how it works and what the pros & cons are so let's get into it.

 Ok so it's an e-book and I self published it but it still counts! 

It seems like my entire life has been leading to this point. I have always wanted to be an author and I used to dream about what it would be like to see my name on the cover a book, what it would be like to have a writing routine, to get all my ideas out on paper and have people read it the way I've read so many authors. 

It's a dream that I've been working toward for years, that is constantly on my vision board and now this year it's happening.

 Happy Friday! I hope you all have been checking in on the Bravo fans in your life because we are severely overstimulated and stressed. The Scandoval (look it up) has taken over our lives and I'm unwell. I've been trying to keep up with everything over on my Bravo Instagram and my pop culture newsletter so head over there if you're interested. 

The rest of the week was ok - a little crazy and all over the place - and I'm happy to say hello to the weekend. I have a really exciting announcement next week that I want to plan for this weekend so definitely keep your eyes out on the blog and sign up for my Royally Pink newsletter to stay up to date.

Aside from planning for my little surprise, I'm going to see some friends, catch up on reading (I've been so behind!) and clean and organize.

Let's get into the round up!

I've been on a French kick lately; I want French everything and want to immerse myself in French culture. That's been reflected in my reading and when you combine thrillers with the chic, French country side you get the thrilling story of The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis.

The Chateau is being released on May 23rd, 2023 but I had an ARC from Netgalley and read it last month. It was riveting, surprising, and maddening in all the best ways.

 The grief and amount of death I have experienced at 30 years old is more than the average person. It is more than the average person in my life, at least. It started out at age 13 when my grandpa died. Then, I had a few of my mom's cousins who we were close to pass away, then my dad passed away, my aunt a few years later. A few more of my mom's cousins tragically passed in the coming years and last year, we loss my grandpa.

Since then, we also lost my great aunt, my grandpa's sister and every time my family and I walk into a funeral home it feels like a cruel joke.

We laugh, we poke fun, how we're always at a funeral but that kind of tragedy sticks with you. 

My relationship with grief has transformed since my dad passed in 2016. The 7 year anniversary was last week and it felt like a very ominous day. I was oddly calm but the reminder of what the day symbolized lingered in the background of my mind.

February was so fast yet so slow and I simply cannot believe we're already in March. I can't believe winter is almost over and Daylight Savings Time is this coming weekend. I'm actually looking forward to it getting darker later because my seasonal depression needs it. 

February was a fine month - it was neither good nor bad. I think I hit a bit of a rock bottom in terms of mental health at the beginning and it tapered off towards the end. A highlight was definitely going into the office more (which I think helps my mental health - how annoying) and of course, my Charleston trip.

I'm positive about March and the rest of the year so here's hoping I manifest some good stuff!

Back to the point of this post though... my February favorites. I failed a bit epically in the no impulse shopping section and I'm going to do my best in March to get back on the horse. That being said, the new items I did buy were bought with intention and they are definitely some of my favorites this month!

This was quite the week. It was both slow and fast, busy yet quiet, relaxing and stressful. I probably should've taken Monday off, after coming back from Charleston to just give me a minute to breathe but I didn't. 

I felt like I was playing catch up all week so I'm looking forward to a relaxing and productive weekend. I think I say that every weekend but this weekend I mean it; I feel peaceful and calm right now which is a relief as I've been super anxious the past few weekends. 

I've also been slacking on my content so I need to get organized and focused. Everything for me has been a bit hectic the past few weeks and I'm hoping that my anxiety calms down a bit so I could get things done.

As I sit here writing this, the biggest Bravo news ever (maybe even bigger than Jen Shah's arrest) is happening and I'm addicted. I have a pop culture Substack newsletter that I'm going to try to keep updated on a regular basis so head over there now to find out the tea.

Let's get into the roundup!

 I've had this book sitting in my Kindle for a really long time and decided to read it last month. I wasn't too sure of what to expect though the plot summary did sound very intriguing. 

It took me a little while to get through but it was a decent read. Back to the Garden had a mix of everything from family issues, romance, murders, detective mysteries and a little bit of cultish behavior. 

It was extremely well written and developed, and I enjoyed reading from the perspective of all the characters.