There is something about the title, Ghosts of Harvard, that makes this book so enticing. Also, the cover? It's the kind of book you want to curl up with on a stormy night, with twinkle lights around you and a cup of hot tea. 

Ghosts of Harvard is truly the mystery to end all mysteries because there is so much involved. It's a heart-wrenching book, in many ways, but it is also just so good. The book is about so much... it's about mental illness, family relationships, blackmail, and murder.

I can confidently say it's one of my top favorite books of the year.

I raved about it at the beginning of this post but Ghosts of Harvard moved me. At its core, it's about a sister wanting to find out what happened to her brother. She wanted to know why he did what he did, she wanted to do it all while being who she thought she wanted to be. 

When Cady starts to hear voices, she starts to wonder if she is like her brother, Eric. That sends her on a spiral of trying to solve the problems inside her head, juggle school, and figure out what happened when Eric was at school.

There were a lot of different plots but it all came together kind of perfectly. You had the ghosts in Cady's head, her relationship with Eric's friend, her studies, and trying to figure out what went on with Eric.

As the book went on, I started to slowly figure out *maybe* what happened with Eric (I had no idea why Cady was hearing ghosts) but the book took off in many different directions and what you thought was actually happening, wasn't happening.

The ending of the book was a truly wild ride. It was definitely slow at first but by the end, the stories sped up and I couldn't believe what I was reading. UGH. It was a book I just want to read over and over again.

I can't even fully explain the depth that this book goes in terms of mental illness and history and family relationships. It's something you can't comprehend unless you read the book.  Like I said, it has everything you could want in a novel and never once was it boring. It kept my interest the entire time.

Keep an eye out in December because this will 100% be on my best reads of the year!

The brand means a lot to me: the founders are young women like myself and their passion & drive for their company is borderline life-changing. I love how engaged they are with their customers and their audience, how they take our suggestions and make them come to life. They are very transparent, they are always doing Instagram Lives and even started something called SCLU which obviously is Stoney Clover Lane University. SCLU allows the followers of the brand to attend business school with co-founder Kendall; we talk about the brand, how Kendall has overcome certain challenges and just the ins and outs of businesses in general.

On Instagram, there is an entire community of Stoney Clover Lane fans and we're always interacting with each other, sharing design inspiration, and just being fans of the brand.

SCL makes me so HAPPY. I love the customization aspect of it, how no two items are ever the same, and the high quality of the products. I love how they keep my organized, how Instagramable they are, and how there's always something new! 

A few weeks ago I filmed a Youtube video about my Stoney Clover Lane collection and since then, it has grown even more but I wanted to share it here on the blog since I do talk so much about SCL.

Either way, the biggest sale of the year is coming up. I think Nordstrom Sale fatigue has definitely set in as the influencer/blogger industry grows and more people talk about the sale. Also, I personally feel like the sale hasn't really brought anything new to the table in the past few years. The same items are on sale and it almost becomes a time to get restocks of your favorite items. 

Pair that with the global pandemic we're currently in and I feel like the NSale is not a priority right now... however, I'm still excited for it. Don't worry, I'm not going overhaul your social media & blog feeds with it... this will be one of two posts I share (the preview + what I actually bought). I will probably be posting a lot on LikeToKnowIt so follow me there if you wish to see more NSale content.

This year, the NSale seems different for me: I'm part of RewardStyle so I'll have more areas to share sale picks AND Nordstrom released an actual preview of almost everything being included in the sale. You can log onto the website and see items that will be included in the sale with sizes & pricing information right there. While you cannot add anything to your bag just yet, you can add them to your wishlist so you'll be ready to shop when the sale goes live.

The sale starts for Nordstrom Credit Cardholders on August 13th. It seems like a long time away but it'll be here before we know it.

After looking at the preview, there are some items I will definitely be purchasing, some I really want, and others that are just not my style. I think my vibe for the NSale this year is lounge clothes & home items. As we head into the Fall season, I'm pretty sure things aren't going to change from what they have been the past few months. The virus is still happening and coziness is a top priority for me. I'm also still working from home for the foreseeable future so I want to be as comfortable yet stylish as possible.

Below are links to everything I have my eye on and items that I already have (looking at you, Barefoot Dreams blanket, and Spanx leather leggings) that I highly recommend! 

However, Taylor Allison Swift is making that very hard. Folklore is giving me all the Fall feels. I just want to lay in a pumpkin patch and cry. 

Folklore is probably the best thing that will happen to all of us this year. I have so many thoughts and feelings toward it but someone on Facebook said it best: "Folklore is like if Red smoked weed." It's the Taylor album that I feel she is probably most proud of. I mean, to produce it in three months and surprise us all? Even her record label didn't know about it. That is some QUEEN SHIT.

I'm obsessed.

Today, obviously, is Sunday and I just got home from grocery shopping. Now I'm planning on blog work, watching Star Wars, and hanging out, as usual. This past week was a blur and I feel very unsettled so I need a hefty dose of self-care today. Yesterday was spent in the pool with my friends and it was fantastic, but lately, whenever I'm in the sun for an extended period of time, I get really sick. That's what happened last night into this morning and I slept until noon. Just not good at all.

I have a long to-do list today but we'll see what happens. I just want to chill. How are you spending Sunday? 

I've been on a major Etsy kick so take a look at what I picked up this week! *Not from Etsy but I purchased this Miranda Frye charm and I'm so excited to wear it! 

Back in 2013, I was obsessed with the Levo League, a new career site aimed toward young women. I read everything the site published, followed the employees on Instagram, and was truly enamored with the message of the site. When I saw that they were looking for summer interns, I jumped at the chance to apply. However, I didn't get the internship right off the bat but thanked the internship coordinator for her response and went on my merry way.

That act of gratitude struck a chord with the coordinator and mixed with my passion for Levo, a few months later, I got a DM asking if I still wanted the internship. I cried tears of joy and landed my dream role at a company that I was obsessed with. 

Later on, I found out that the internship coordinator did a lot more than just manage a group of hopeful college-aged women... she did a lot with Levo's social media and so much more behind the scenes. She was also a fellow Phi Sigma Sigma sister so I immediately took a liking to her. After the internship we stayed in touch, we talked a lot about career, about the sorority, about writing, and college. When I graduated in 2014, she was the first person I reached out to and she helped me land my first job in social media... she was also my boss and molded me into the social media manager I am today.

Her advice and her guidance along the way have helped me more than she will ever know. Now, her voice is able to help every other post-graduate (and beyond) with her new book "What's Next." 

I owe Elana Lyn my entire career and the fact that you can all read it and gain the perspective from someone so smart and inspiration is truly a gift. 

I am now no longer a post-graduate as I graduated from college 6 years ago but that doesn't mean this book didn't apply to me. Even if you are well established in your career, you can find a lot of goodness in What's Next.

Elana covers everything from graduating and landing your first job, to money and relationships. It's a full guide to adulthood and we could all use a reminder once in a while. 

She does not mess around in this book -- it is very straightforward without a lot of 'fluff' that doesn't apply. That is my favorite part of it! There is no time for unrelated stories or advice when it comes to "What's Next."

The unique thing about this book is that it is truly a 5-year plan. Elana gives clear steps and guidelines on how to set up your plan (worksheets and everything included) so you can keep track of your plans and goals all in one place. 

At the back of the book, there is a list of resources for your reference, everything from websites, publishers, and apps for a variety of different topics.

This is a post-graduate/adulting bible. It has everything you need in one place: it's a guide, a journal, and a reference document... you can't ask for more.

I've read a lot of self-help books in my time and while I might be slightly biased, I think this is a great one, especially if you're NOT into those self-help books. This is a book for anyone, despite gender, despite the industry, despite age... it's a very non-biased guide. It's short, sweet, and to the point. It doesn't tell anyone person's story (i.e: It's not written by a brand founder or an editor-in-chief like a lot of other books I've read). It's written by someone who has dedicated their life and profession to helping young adults find their way in the world. 

I could not recommend this book enough to the freshly graduated and even someone who is starting a new job or changing their career path. You won't regret it! 

Vogue's 73 Question series on Youtube is one of my life's greatest pleasures. I love seeing celebrities in their element and love learning more about them. Whenever it's a celebrity I really love, I'm super excited (like SJP and Taylor Swift) but even the celebrities I don't know a lot about, I find myself really falling in love with them after the video, like Blake Lively or Hailey Bieber. 

It's such a personal thing for someone to answer 73 questions about themself and I really adore it.

After seeing Neely from It Starts With Coffee share her own 73 question blog post a few months back, I knew I wanted to do it eventually and there is no time like the present! Some of the questions are the same as hers and others I've changed to better apply to my life. 

I hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better! 

Now? Everyone is selling masks, whether their branded (like Kylie) or fresh, beautiful designs like Lele Sadoughi. 

During the entire pandemic, I have been finding new masks to buy and love. Instead of buying makeup (which I haven't worn in the past few months), I've been all the masks. I like to have options, have them match different clothing styles, and also, I was them after every 1-2 uses so having a lot is a necessity.

What I've found from buying multiple different types of masks is that every mask is different. The sizing is different, the material is different and they all feel differently on the face. The one thing that is consistent? I can breathe while wearing all of them but yet they are strong enough that I feel protected.

I wanted to round up my favorite, most comfortable face masks that are available now! 

I have two different styles of the SCL face masks but right now, only the pink/mint are available. I love the heart bead detailing on the side (this doesn't make them uncomfortable, I can't even feel the beads when I'm wearing the mask). These masks are thick and you can't feel your breath through them but yet, you can breathe easily in them. I've had their tie-dye face masks for longer which are slightly thicker than the pink/mint and are probably my most worn masks. SCL just released Terry Cloth masks which look even more comfy and perfect. I also love how you get two masks in a pack so more bang for your buck!

If you can get your hands on these masks (they are hard to come by), you need them. They are the most comfortable, easy masks I own and I just wish I had more. They're so great, my mom stole one of them from me... The Lele masks come in a pack of three for $40 which seems fair when you think about it ($13 per mask) and in my opinion, are very well worth it. They are stretchy, very thin, easy to breathe in, and comfortable to wear. I also love how small they fold up and how portable they are. I have the Cloud set and have pre-ordered the Lucky Charms set... I can't wait for them to arrive to have more masks to choose from.

I ordered this tie-dye mask on a whim from Shop Betches and had no idea that it was created by Aly Shapiro, RHONY OG Jill Zarin's daughter. I also had no idea that Jill and Aly were hand-making these masks down in Florida throughout the entire pandemic. They might be a little more comfortable than the others on this list but they are also slightly more casual. Masks by Jill and Ally are handmade (you can see them making the masks on Instagram Stories) and come in tons of different colors, from pastel solids to tie-dye to black & white solid. The best part? When you buy one mask, Jill & Ally donate a mask to a healthcare worker. 

Honestly, I love all three of these masks and cannot pick just one. I wear them when I'm in different moods and with different outfits. I highly recommend all three companies when it comes to their masks and is looking forward to picking up more from them soon!