2018 Quarter 2 - Reading in Review

I can hardly believe that another quarter of the year has passed by - we are officially over halfway through 2018! In a time when the news is crazier than ever, I've been so thankful for books that take me to new lands and new stories to give my attention.

Below are all of the books that I've completed in April, May, and June of 2018. They are organized by star rating - all of the books in this quarter received a 2, 3, or 4 out of 5. Please note: I am a tough rater! A book has to really touch me in unique ways in order to receive 5 stars. Even though no books this quarter have received a 5, the books with 3 and 4 stars are still great books!

I've provided links to Amazon for each of these books, but please support your local, independent book stores if possible. I read all of these books through rentals from my local library or by purchasing or renting on Kindle.




Do This For Me by Eliza Kennedy (listened on audiobook)

Do This For Me is about Raney Moore, a successful lawyer whose life takes a turn when she discovers that her husband has cheated on her. The story follows her self discovery, which takes many twists and turns, while experiencing this trauma. Raney is such a badass, especially in the first and last 10% of the book. In between, the story gets a little bit repetitive and dry. If you love a self discovery story and you're interested in reading one about a type A, career driven woman, then give this a shot. Overall, though, it just didn't work for me.



The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton

I mostly just wanted to read this because of the cover. Sue me. The story takes place in an enchanting (both figuratively and literally) Northwestern town. The setting is incredible - a town of eclectics with a history connected to a family of witches. The story? Not so incredible. It's readable, so if the setting interests you then you make like this, but the story is just meh.

The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close (listened on audiobook)

Beth, a NYC journalist, and her husband Matt, an aspiring politician, move to DC to follow Matt's political aspirations. Beth is unhappy in DC, confused by the "smallness" and the "who knows who" nature of the city. Things begin to improve when they meet another couple, Ashleigh and Jimmy, transplanted in DC from Texas. The Hopefuls is told through Beth's point of view and is the story of her relationship with Matt and friendship with Ashleigh and Jimmy. Listening to this on audiobook had major appeal as I loved the narrator's voices for the different characters. It was charming, but sometimes boring, and a bit banal.




The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle

Cara's family endures one month out of the year where more accidents happen, and accidents that should be no big deal end up worse than usual. The whole story isn't about accident season, though - that's just the framing. This is really a book about facing your past and how it defines your future. It's a book about relationships and acceptance and secrets. Trigger warning: there is abuse. I don't remember all of the details of this book, but I do remember speeding through it, absolutely having to know what happened next.

Thanks for the Trouble by Tommy Wallach

Thanks for the Trouble is the story of Parker, a 16 year old boy who has been mute since his father's death. Instead, he communicates through writing in a journal, and he also enjoys creative writing, specifically fairy tales. He meets Zelda, another girl close to his age who claims to have been alive and the same age for hundreds of years. It's the story of their adventures and facing truths that aren't easy to face. I read this book in one sitting - the story was perfectly charming and sarcastic all in one! I loved the lead character to pieces. I've heard some critiques that Zelda is a manic pixie dream girl archetype, but I didn't read her that way.



The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir

I picked this book up primarily because I liked the cover - the contrast of the simple portrait with the glitter letters totally spoke to me. In addition, I chose it because the content (televised Christian mega-family with pregnant teen) just sounded like an enveloping read. The book follows Essie Hicks and her determination for independence from her televised family. I liked this book, but nothing with it has stuck with me after I completed it. Nevertheless, I read it in 3 nights flat, and I was constantly racing to pick it up to discover what happened next.



The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

This story follows a travel journalist who has the opportunity of a lifetime - a weeklong trip on a luxury liner. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happens - she hears someone being thrown overboard. When she investigates, there is no one missing accounted for. I love a good thriller, and this one did not disappoint. The ending was a total surprise to me, even if some parts were frustrating to read because the characters clearly had options that could have solved their predicaments. Either way, I read this book in only a few sittings and couldn't get to the next page fast enough.



The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente

Even though I gave this an official 3 stars, I think it may be closer to 4. September is a 12 year old girl who gets whisked away by the Green Wind because her help is needed in Fairyland. This book is less about the story itself and more about the general whimsy and writing style that make it truly extraordinary. The writing style is beyond incredible and some of the scenes are so beautiful that it left me astounded. Although it wasn't a book I was racing to pick up (I wasn't overly invested in the story), I truly enjoyed every second of reading it because the writing was just that good. I've already picked up the second installment in this series.

The Good Daughter by Karen Slaughter

This is a book that I was racing to read every chance that I got. The Good Daughter is about Charlotte and Samantha, the daughters of a small town defense lawyer. Their mother is killed in a traumatic incident, which was the result of "revenge" for her father's willingness to defend anyone in court. When a school shooting occurs, Rusty and Charlotte are sure that the culprit is innocent. Without telling too much (and while still leaving a ton of plot out), if you're a fan of psychological thrillers, you HAVE to pick this one up.



The Circle by Dave Eggers

The Circle is a major technology conglomerate that combines all of your accounts into one. When Mae gets a job there, she feels that she couldn't be luckier. Eventually, though, things start to get a little bit weird, and her role at the company becomes increasingly... public. I absolutely loved reading this book, and it's relevance a time when all of us are grappling with the price of convenience at the cost of our privacy was outstanding.



The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Some people have described this as "Harry Potter for grown-ups." I'm not sure that that description is entirely accurate... To me, this is the story of how characters (with many, many flaws) face those faults and grow - in a world filled with magic. To me, this book is primarily character driven, while combining many elements of fantasy books that we all know and love - particularly Harry Potter and Chronicle's of Narnia. This book is wildly polarizing - the characters are very unlikable and it takes everything you expect out of a fantasy book and flips it on it's head. Those are the reasons that I love it (but also the reasons why many don't). If you're a fan of fantasy and you enjoy character driven novels, you have to give this a try. Also - I LOVE the magic system here. If Lev Grossman is good at one thing, it's describing what it actually feels like to do magic, which is incredible.



The Magician's King by Lev Grossman

This is the follow up to The Magician's where Quentin and his friends are exploring the magical land that they thought was only in their childhood fantasy books but is actually real. The pacing in this one is much better than in the first one, and the characters truly grow and develop. I like each book more than the next, and I immediately got a copy of the final installment in the trilogy. If you have read The Magician's and weren't sure what you thought, The Magician's King only improves upon what Lev Grossman already started.



Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?

Did any of these books stand out to you as something you'd like to pick up? If so, which ones?

2018 Quarter 1 - Reading in Review

In quarter 1 of 2018, the months of January, February, and March, I've read 18 books. I'm delighted to say that I've exceeded my reading goal by, well... a lot. I was hoping to read 25 books across the entire year, so to be at 18 already is incredibly exciting. I've rediscovered my love of reading this year in an entirely new way in 2018, and it has been such a gift.

Most of the books that I've read would fall in the entirely too broad "contemporary fiction" category. There are a few dystopian/sci-fi picks, a few young adult and middle grade reads, and a few non-fiction selections.

Without further ado, I am going to detail the books that I've read over the past 3 months below, in order of least favorite to favorite. Follow me on Goodreads if you'd like to see what I'm reading and what I am hoping to read in the future! This is going to be a looooooooooong post, so settle in. :)



Note: I am linking to Amazon for each of these books because of the convenience and the potential that someone would want to order it on Kindle. However, I highly encourage you to purchase from your local, independent bookstore or borrow from your local library. Pro tip: most libraries have a service that allows you to borrow physical copies as well as digital copies, which was a HUGE game changer for me when rediscovering my love for reading.

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

- Quick summary: Sweetbitter tells the story of a twenty something who recently moved to New York and lands a job in one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city. She encounters new experiences and people that push her out of her comfort zone and cause her to change her perspective.

- My thoughts: The writing, especially at the sentence level, was STUNNING. The potential for this book is outstanding, yet so wasted. Overall, the story wasn't fulfilling, and I didn't love the characters. I was pleased when the book ended, so I could move onto something new.

The Assistants by Camille Perri (listened on audiobook)

- Quick summary: The Assistants is about two unlikely friends who discover how to embezzle money, seemingly without notice, from their massive corporation employer (a Jeff Bezos type) to pay off their student loans.

- My thoughts: The writing was weak, but the story was fun. Listening on audiobook helped to nullify any irritations about the vapid writing. I cared about the characters, even if they were irritating at times, and I was genuinely interested in the outcome of the conflict.

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

- Quick summary: Basically, Men Explain Things to Me is what you think it'll be. A series of essays that focus on the delegitimization of women in personal and professional settings.

- My thoughts: Nothing in this book changed my perspective or truthfully impressed me. I've read many variants of this type of book, and this wasn't the best of them. I still enjoyed it, but it doesn't hold a candle to my favorite feminist essayist, Roxane Gay.

Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman by Anne Helen Peterson

- Quick Summary: This book is a series of essays, each focusing on a woman in the public eye that is "too ______."

- My thoughts: I actually really enjoyed this. It was the perfect thing to pick up and read when I had a spare 15 to 20 minutes here and there. The reason this is a 3 star and not a 4 star is because some of the essays really outshone the others. My favorites were about Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj, and Melissa McCarthy.

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler (listened on audiobook)

- Quick summary: Vinegar Girl is a retelling of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. It tells the story of a serious, somewhat caustic woman named Kate, who is being asked to marry her father's lab assistant in order to keep him the country.

- My thoughts: Anne Tyler is an extraordinary author. She makes even the mundane seem charming, and she just generally has a way with words. I'm not sure I would have stuck with this book if I didn't "read" it on audiobook because the story is truthfully a little bit slow and one note. That being said, I still enjoyed the characters and the story.

Teach Like Finland: 33 simple strategies for joyful classrooms by Timothy D. Walker

- Quick summary: An author applies his experience teaching in Finland to his experience teaching in the US. He provides (what he says) are 33 simple strategies to create a more joyous classroom.

- My thoughts: I found the writing somewhat boring, the strategies a bit banal, and the tone a bit too idealistic. This just wasn't my cup of tea.

The Power by Noami Alderman

- Quick summary: In the modern era, teenage discover that they can electrocute with their hands. Eventually, some women are also able to discover this new power. The Power follows the stories of several different people during the genesis of this time, from a reporter to a politician to a religious leader to a teen rebel.

- My thoughts: I feel that many others liked this book a lot more than I did. I thought it was a bit contrived, and I liked some of the characters' stories significantly more than I liked the others. I think it definitely is worth a read, but it didn't affect me the way that I thought it would.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

- Quick summary: This is your standard build your confidence make you feel awesome read. The main philosophy touted here is building a life where the things you give a f*ck about are things you care about.

- My thoughts: It was a fun read. The book was... fine... It could have been summarized in a 3 page PDF.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

- Quick summary: It's the story of a high school girl with a mental health disorder, her coming to terms with herself, the relationship with her best friend, and a budding relationship with a mysterious young man.

- My thoughts: I typically don't read John Green, but I was excited to see a book that discussed OCD. John Green did it in a realistic, approachable, and appropriate way. I liked the characters and I liked the read, but the book didn't necessarily stay with me once I was done reading it.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu 

- Quick summary: Moxie is about a high school junior named Vivianne, living in a small town in Texas where football is king. Vivianne is a rule follower, but she becomes fed up with the behaviors of boys at her school, particularly the football team. Vivianne makes some moves to change this situation, and it turns into an all out movement. 

- My thoughts: I will be posting an in-depth review of this soon, but I really, really enjoyed this book. The first third was challenging to parse through as I thought it was a bit heavy handed, but I thought that the second half was extraordinary. It handles so many issues in such a beautiful way. I'm very impressed with Jennifer Mathieu, and I'm totally a Moxie girl [Moxie girls fight back!!!] 

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

- Quick summary: This is a difficult book to describe... The story is about an unnamed narrator, a bi-racial girl who is the daughter of social justice/feminist mother and a devoted father. The narrator's best friend is the total opposite of her, paraded around by her mother who could hardly be described as feminist. The story bounces between timelines - from her childhood at home to her college life and post college jobs. A main story line follows the narrators job as an assistant to a mega pop star named Aime, who builds a tone deaf school in a west African country.

- My thoughts: Zadie Smith is absolutely brilliant. Although the story dragged at parts, her writing made it worth it. This book explores SO many issues of race, class, gender, friendship, parenting, aging, and more. Some parts were much more compelling than others, but the parts that compelled me had me fully gripped. It's definitely worth your time if ANY of those themes mentioned interest you.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

- Quick summary: Wonder is about Auggie Pullman, a 10 year old boy who is going to school for the first time after being homeschooled due to his health concerning a facial deformation, which has caused him to enduring over 20 surgeries. The story is told through his perspective, as well as many other characters including his friends at school, family at home, and friends of the family.

- My thoughts: The big takeaway of Wonder is the importance of empathy and the impact Auggie's deformation, but also his light and love, has on everyone's life. I was hoping that I could use this book as a classroom text, but it is just slightly too "young" for my students. The story is lovely, though, and the writing is awesome. It's a sweet book that is worth your time.

Swamplandia by Karen Russel

- Quick summary: This story takes place on the Florida swamp of a family of "gator wrestlers" at an amusement park. It is told through the eyes of a young girl, an aspiring gator wrestler, after the death of their mother, Hilola Bigfoot, the famed gator performer. The entire family is quirky with an older brother who is borderline genius and an older sister who believes in the occult.

- My thoughts: Man, oh man, did I love this book. I may have to bump it up to 5 stars... Karen Russel's writing is BEAUTIFUL. Each sentence, each paragraph, each chapter is a work of art. You couldn't build a better setting for a book to me - I just love the quirk and kitsch of the setting. The reason this has 4 stars and not 5 is due to the pacing towards the middle and an event or two that didn't sit right with me in terms of the rest of the story. Overall, I LOVED this read, and I desperately want to read more from Karen Russel.

The Girls by Emma Cline

- Quick summary: The Girls is the coming of age story that takes place in seventies during the era of the Manson family cult. The story is less about the Manson cult, but the cult is more of the setting where this bizarre coming of age story takes place.

- My thoughts: You know, this book may have to be demoted to a 3 star... I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't have a lasting impact of me. If you love this time in history (which I do) and enjoy a good coming of age story (which I also do), you'll probably like this. However, I haven't thought about it much since finishing it, and I don't really have much to say about it other than, well... It was okay.

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

- Quick summary: This book is the coming of age story of a girl who grows up in an evangelical household while coming to terms with the fact that she is gay.

- My thoughts: Jeanette is an ambitious writer who crafted an ambitious story. There is a dark humor to this that totally fascinated me. Although the summary and review is short, the impact this book left on me has not been/will not be short. I consider this an instant classic, and I think that everyone should read it.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

- Quick summary: This is Gail Honeyman's inaugural book, which tells the story of a woman with a dark past. Eleanor is incredibly socially awkward, even socially unaware (while reading, I imagined her to be on the autism spectrum). We move with her as she navigates the world, and as the story progresses we learn more and more about her dark past.

- My thoughts: This book perfectly captures the element of tragic humor that I love so much in a book. As a reader, you'll grow to LOVE Eleanor, a very complicated and sometimes hard to love character. You'll be desperate to see her personal and professional growth and learn about her past. The story, and some specific paragraphs in Honeyman's writing, have stuck with me since I finished the book at the start of 2018.

The Unseen World by Liz Moore

- Quick summary: The Unseen World is about a girl named Ada who was raised by her father, David. David had Ada through a surrogate and raises her alone - home schooling her, or lab schooling her, as they call it, since he takes her to the lab where he works everyday as a computer scientist. David gives Ada codes and ciphers to solve, and right before he is diagnosed with Alzheimers and it progresses, he gives here a code that she can not seem to break. When David's Alzheimers becomes debilitating, Ada has to live with a family friend/neighbor, and we find out that the pieces of David's past are not matching up. David may not be who he says he is.

- My thoughts: I could not put this book down. I adored each and every character, even the minor ones. I had to know what happened next in the mystery of discovering who David truly was. I loved following Ada through her exploration into the normal adolescent world. Liz Moore is a masterful author who crafts even the most mundane experiences into beautiful prose.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

- Quick summary: The United States endures a pandemic, most of the population dies, and society needs to rebuild. The main character is part of a traveling Shakespeare troupe, performing for the various colonies. This book follows several characters' stories, and as the book progresses, we discover how they interconnect.

- My thoughts: Emily St. John Mandel has a beautiful writing style that captures the essence of this dark situation perfectly. I was just enamored by the idea of rebuilding society with the focus of the arts in this traveling theater troupe totally fascinated me. I loved this book so much that I already want to re-read it.

Have you read any of the books from my quarter 1 of reading? If so, what did you think? What is the best book you've read so far in 2018? Tell me in the comments! 

A hopefully welcome return

It's been so, so long. Life gets a hold of ya, passion ebbs and flows, and other interests peak and wane.

I'm still teaching ninth grade kiddos. I still live in a 34th floor postage stamp in Chicago. I'm still a directionless, yet forward moving millenial. 

Thursday afternoon snacks and a little bit of light reading at one of my favorite neighborhood stops 🥑💚📗

A post shared by Heather Otto (@xoheatherotto) on Aug 17, 2017 at 2:35pm PDT

Sundays are for girls supporting girls, third day hair, and soaking in the autumn sun. Shoutout to @daisynatives for my absolute new favorite shirt. 🎀❤️☀️

A post shared by Heather Otto (@xoheatherotto) on Oct 8, 2017 at 1:11pm PDT

I've been some new places (notably, Denver a few weekends ago). I've had some new experiences (who would've thought I'd VOLUNTARILY get dirty during a Spartan Race). I've (hopefully) become a little wiser. 

I fell somewhere between 20 and 30 times hiking up the mountain in my tennis shoes to get this picture

A post shared by Heather Otto (@xoheatherotto) on Nov 19, 2017 at 8:04am PST

Thankful for weekend adventures (among many, many other things)

A post shared by Heather Otto (@xoheatherotto) on Nov 22, 2017 at 9:15pm PST

Oh yeah, I also died my hair pink. 

Ushering in the new week with a bit of coy and a lot of color

A post shared by Heather Otto (@xoheatherotto) on Aug 13, 2017 at 5:31pm PDT

Happy October, friends!

A post shared by Heather Otto (@xoheatherotto) on Oct 1, 2017 at 8:15am PDT

What's the most newest thing or favorite familiar thing in YOUR life over the last 6 months? 

5 skincare products I can't live without

A few weeks ago, I discussed my can't live without makeup products. Now, I'm talking about my can't live without skincare products. I'm a low maintenance kinda gal, so if it gets a permanent spot in my routine - you know it's good. These products have actually CHANGED my skin for the better. When I'm shopping skincare, I'm asking for a miracle. Here are 5 little miracles that I'm sure you'll love.



1. Simple Micellar Water

It's cheap. You can buy it everywhere. It doesn't irritate the skin. It cleanses the face and takes off your makeup. This stuff is amazing. If you buy it, you can't go wrong. I use it every single morning before my makeup and every single evening when I am taking my makeup off.

2. Lush Toner

My favorites are the rose water and tea tree water. The rose just calms the skin and the tea tree disinfects and controls oil. I use them after cleansing, before makeup, before bed, and randomly throughout the day. Bonus - I use a mixture of the two for a sheet spray!

3. Kiel's Facial Fuel

This is my go to shower cleanser. I tend to cleanse my skin primarily in the shower (like I said - LOW MAINTENANCE. When I cleanse in the morning, I just use the micellar water and toner). The facial fuel line is marketed towards men at Kiel's, but it works great for me. I like this product because it makes the skin feel very clean without feeling SQUEAKY clean and drying it out. Plus, it has a great menthol feeling.

4. Drunk Elephant Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

I've seen everyone talking about this stuff. I know that the Drunk Elephant line is highly regarded as having some of the best ingredients and doing amazing stuff for the skin. For the first time, I noticed that I had little bumps all over my skin and had some general texture all over. Within a week those unsightly little forehead bumps were gone!

5. Sunday Riley CEO Moisturizer

Not only does this moisturize the hell out of your skin without making it feel heavy, the Vitamin C in it gives your skin such a glow when you wake up! Using this stuff has made me not want to wear foundation to cover my natural skin. Yeah, it's THAT good.

Things that make you feel good - Volume 1

Sometimes, we need that extra boost mid week. That's why I'm starting a new series called "Things that make you feel good." If you couldn't tell from the title, this series is simply going to be things that will make you feel good (or at least things that made me feel good. I'm not dishing out guarantees here, but I'd put my bets on something like - "9 astute blog readers out of 10 rate this as EXTREMELY feel good!" But I digress). I'll always include some links and a short summary of the link and/or why I included it. Links I love is a series from other bloggers that inspired me to create this one. I hope you enjoy!



Some excellent policing 
A police officer was dispatched for a nuisance call regarding some black kids playing football. Instead of breaking up the game, he used some good human judgement and got out of his car saying, "Where are we lining up?" While playing, his partner playfully teased one of the kids by saying, "Do you want me to write a police report, because you just got robbed!" after one of the officers made a great play. Here is an example of some solid judgement that will have some seriously positive effects on both the officers and the kids.

Ducklings get a 2nd chance at life 
Sometimes the world seems so crazy and out of control that I get overwhelmed and feel as though I can't do anything about it. Sweet stories about controlling the little things give me hope and encouragement to fight the big fights! Read this short article about a mother and her elementary aged children who find abandoned ducklings and go to great lengths to ensure their safety.

In a Heartbeat short film 
Representation matters, everyone! This is a beautiful short film (content aside, the animation is awesome) that features a young boy who is experiencing a crush. Just watch - I promise you won't be disappointed.

Which one was your favorite? Are there any "feel good links" that you've seen recently? Please, share it down below! The next post will attribute the link AND the blogger who shared it.

Five on Friday - Volume 3

1- The Lululemon "Define" jacket

I'll be honest - I don't get the Lululemon hype. I understand that their clothes are of higher quality, but I know of several brands that I believe are totally comparable for half of the price. However, this jacket is killer. Chris bought it for me as a birthday gift, and I'm in love. The seams perfectly shape the body, and it is just beyond flattering. The second I put the jacket on all of my friends reacted with - "Damn, you look good in that jacket." I can't speak to the wear of the jacket with washes as it is brand new, but just know that it is a stunning jacket on the body.

2 - Tone It Up daily workouts

My workout routine ebbs and flows - sometimes I'm committed and other times I just can't get myself to do it. To remedy this cycle, I signed up for a Spartan Sprint. My friends have been doing these events as a way to stay in shape and keep in touch, but I have sat each one out because I am not in good enough shape. Anyways, long story short - the Tone It Up daily workout is a great place to start when building my daily workout. The website has a page which shows 5 daily moves (and it's free!) targeting different muscle groups each day. It gives me a place to start when I'm standing in my apartment gym and have no idea what to do.

3 - Amazon Prime day

I bought all of the things! Some of my favorite purchases were my Kindle Paperwhite, Harmony Hub, and Adventure collection book set.

My little technology hub

I've been anti Kindle for a while, but I have to say - I was wrong. Having a Kindle has made reading an easier activity. I've only owned this for 3 days, but I've already finished 2 books just via the convenience of having several options at my fingertips.

The Harmony Hub is a really cool device that Chris suggested we purchase. It makes our Google home WAY more functional, by allowing us to connect it with our lighting, television, and sound bar. It allows you to create awesome shortcuts that otherwise would require several verbal cues on the Google home. For example, now we can say "Hey Google, turn on Project Runway" and our Roku, sound bar, and television turn on AND THEN it auto selects Hulu and the episode of Project Runway that we are watching. My personal favorite shortcut we've created is "Hey Google, it's party time" and our favorite playlist turns on along with fun lighting from the Phillips Hue bulbs.

Lastly, we got a great deal on this beautiful set of books. It matches our apartment decor beautifully and would be a great gift for any book loving child or adult.

4 - Dear White People on Netflix



I think this show is a must watch for everyone. It has great messaging without beating you over the head with it. The show revolves around a group of black students on a primarily white Ivy League campus. Each episode focuses on a particular character and delves into the different complexities of being a black student. It is a quick paced show as each episode only runs a half hour long. I will say, the first 3 or so episodes are slow. If you're unsure about this - please give it a shot. It's entertaining, beautifully shot, and one way to start getting yourself "woke."

5 - Loreal Colorista



Guys. I did it. I've wanted pink hair for ages, so I finally did something about it. I picked up the super temporary Colorista dye from Loreal and it worked great! I love it so much that I may try another color and then bite the bullet on a professional job. Why not have fun colored hair if you want it? This color was made for light blonde hair, and my hair is dark blonde bordering brunette, so the color isn't exactly as vibrant as I want it to be. However, that isn't to be unexpected because my hair is clearly darker than the box suggests. What color should I try next - mermaid teal?



What are your favorite things at the moment? It can be a feeling, an event, a food, a product, or anything that strikes your fancy!

5 miracle makeup products I can't live without

Recently, I've been very into minimizing my beauty collection. I had way too many products, some that I didn't love, and my morning routine was just too stressful. Why have many products that I don't love instead of having few products that I adore? Additionally, I'm a low maintenance kind of gal. I want products that perform miracles with minimal effort. So behold - my miracle makeup products that I just can't live without!