Tuesday, December 13, 2022

In-Law's & Last Minute Stocking Stuffers


It's crazy that Christmas is already next week! This will be the last round of gift guides in 2022 and I'm so thankful for all the support I've received this year. I love finding deals for this little community and I appreciate every item purchased through my links! When you do make a purchase through any of my links, I do make a small commission at no extra cost to you - so thank you again!

Click the image or the linked words below the picture to shop those gift options and more in that category!








 

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

November 2022 Amazon Best Sellers

 


Crazy that it is already December! The holidays are around the corner and I wanted to round up last month's top sellers! I have also shared gift guides for Beauty Lovers, Gifts for Girls Under $25, and Guy's Gift Guides as well! There will be more coming in the next week and then before we know it, it will be New Year's and then 2023!

Click the photo or the link below the image to shop!


















Thursday, December 1, 2022

Guy's Gift Guides 2022

 


We have been thrown right into the holiday season! I'm so excited for all that is to come and I'm actually participating in Vlogmas over on my TikTok page. Sometimes the holidays can remind us of loved ones we've lost and are no longer with us. I'm feeling that today but it's also important to remember that the holidays are a time for togetherness and hope! So that's what I'm holding on to. 

I wanted to pull together a gift guide for the guys because I feel like every year when I ask this is one of the most requested! Guys can be so difficult to shop for and I hope this gift guide can help you think of some ideas for someone on your list! Click any of the pictures of linked words to shop my guy's gift guide! Happy shopping.






Thursday, November 17, 2022

Gifts For Your Gal Pals & Beauty Lovers Under $25

 



I am NOT a Thanksgiving skipper - in fact, it's one of my favorite holidays but I know that it can be overwhelming to think of gift ideas for the people on your list and I wanted to give everyone time to brainstorm! 

This round, I'm sharing gifts for your gal pals and gifts for your beauty lovers - both categories under $25! You can click the image or the link below the image to shop!









Sunday, November 6, 2022

October 2022 Amazon Best Sellers


It's crazy to think that it's already time to start rounding up gift guides! October was another month of celebrating people I love and trying new things. I started a 30-day outfit challenge to reinspire my outfit planning and content creation and I definitely feel rejuvenated in that area of my life! 

Below are my top sellers from October on Amazon. You can click the photo or the link below the photo to learn more and shop!















Friday, November 4, 2022

It's Been Six Months In New Orleans

Dress (use code XOHANNAH) | Headband | Sneakers


It’s crazy to think that I’ve lived in New Orleans for six months! It feels like just yesterday I was walking to the Chicago Lakefront outside of my apartment to shoot my announcement photos that I was moving.


So much has changed. I’ve never felt more at home than I do in New Orleans. And although I miss my mom and my family, I know I made the right decision. I’ve done a lot of work on myself, and I’ve been able to hone in on what really matters. 

A lot of that started when I had to decide what I could and couldn’t move with me across the country. In hindsight, I wish I had used movers because packing up your whole life can be so stressful! I had been holding onto a lot of stuff from my dad and it was both physically and mentally exhausting to go through.

If you’re also someone who has dealt with parent loss and is now making a big move, I recommend getting a head start! Set aside pockets of time to go through what you’ve saved. Not everything has been too hard and sad. It can also bring back fond memories and laughs. 

Using movers can help with packing and transportation of your items, unpacking, and time! We drove a minivan of my necessities across the country which was a bonding experience but was pretty stressful at times. No matter where you are, you can locate affordable moving options on MoversBoost. They have exclusive moving leaders and share them with their clients who have moving needs. 

If you’re local to the Chicagoland area, I would recommend using JC Movers & Lumper Services Inc. This business offers a variety of packing and moving services to help you make your move as simple as possible. Be sure to give these labor movers in Chicago a call if you have any questions!

So, whether you’re moving across town or across the country they can help you find the movers that best fit your needs. 

Cutting out any time and labor you have to do yourself can also help on the other side of the move – unpacking. It took me a long time to unpack what I had moved because I was so exhausted setting up my new home, putting together new furniture, and picking up used furniture. It was hard to think clearly because I was exhausted! 

In the end, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything and it allowed me to really push myself and realize my full potential – but trying to balance that with working full time, blogging, a busy social calendar, trying to work out and get enough sleep has been tricky! So my biggest piece of advice would be to look into movers and give yourself some grace. 

I had built up my new life in New Orleans a lot leading up to the big move and when I got here and it wasn’t everything I thought it would be right away I ran myself into the ground. It was a huge life change and instead of working through that, I kept pretending like I was fine but having a lot of conversations with loved ones in my life wondering if I made a huge mistake. If I could go back, I would let myself feel my feelings, rest up and remember that all good things take time. 

There are still a lot of things that I want to do here in my home and as a New Orleanian, but in my six months here I’ve learned who I am again, made amazing memories with people I love, and ended up places in my life I’ve always dreamed of but wasn’t sure would happen for me. 

Take the risk, dream the dream, and live your life. 

Collaboration with MoversBoost. MoversBoost offers exclusive moving leads to its network of moving clients.

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Preparing For Fall

 


As we settle into cooler temperatures, even in New Orleans, I find myself naturally prepping for Chicago winter even though I moved to escape it. But universally, there are a lot of ways to prep for colder weather and I wanted to round up some ways to get ahead of the chilly temperatures.

Swap Out Wardrobes


While most of my wardrobe can be worn all year, I tend to bring out my sweaters, warmer layers and make them more accessible. When I lived in Chicago, I would take anything that needed a refresh for the season to CD One Cleaners. They have a ton of locations in the Chicagoland area and their prices are budget friendly!

In New Orleans, I'm still looking for a cleaners, but I have found a tailor! NOLA is such a word of mouth city so it won't be hard to get my (lighter) winter layers ready for the season.

Switch Out Blankets and Bedding


It's time for those mornings where you're too cozy in bed to get out. All my bedding was dry cleaned before I moved so it's all set for the season! I also tend to watch TV and work with blankets on this time of year so I make sure to run them through the washer before use since Dolly loves burrowing in my blanket basket. 

Switch Out Footwear


Give me all the clunky combat boots, uggs, and slippers. I need slippers through out the house because my feet constantly get overheated and then cold. My favorite ones are the smiley face ones.

Make Coats And Warmer Layers Readily Available 


Time to break out those coats! I've only dabbled in my lighter ones here but hey a jacket is a jacket. Make sure they have time to hang and breath before grabbing them when you head out!

Bonus tip: take an inventory of your wardrobe! I have been trying to shop in my closet as much as possible and taking an inventory of what you already have before you buy the latest and greatest is good for your storage spaces and your wallet!



Wednesday, October 5, 2022

September 2022 Amazon Best Sellers

 



September was a crazy busy month but I got to spend a lot of time with people I love! As always, I've rounded up last month's top sellers from my Amazon Storefront. You can shop below by clicking on the link or the photo!













Tuesday, September 13, 2022

A Reflection on 27


It's crazy to think about how different my life was this time a year ago. This past year has been one of the first times in my life that I made decisions because I wanted to, not because they were in response to difficult events outside of my control. 


I pulled the trigger and finally moved to New Orleans, something that was always a goal of mine. I am so lucky that I have a mom that wanted to help me make my dream a reality. She helped me pack up, drive and move into my new place. I'm so lucky to have friends who have helped me in my apartment hunt, learning my new city, and included me in their plans. It has been one of the hardest but happiest decisions I have ever made. This gave me space to expand my home, try new things, and reconnect with my friends from college in new ways. I bought a car, I got promoted at work, and was able to decorate a house that I have made a home. All things that two years ago would have never been possible. Hey, I even got my nose re-pierced! 


Last year was a time to start realizing my boundaries and begin setting them, and this past year was a time I had to start reinforcing them which I have found to be harder at times than recognizing that there needs to be a boundary in the first place. 


With a lot of change, comes a lot of anxiety. Moving across the country and moving away from most familiar things has been a lot on my mental health if we're being honest. It's allowed me space to work through a lot of the baggage I was carrying from before which was very needed. Putting in the work on yourself can be a really difficult task. Sitting with your feelings and thoughts and working through them is a lot for anyone to take on, but I think it has brought me to exactly where I need to be. 




I think a huge thing that happened this year was finding peace. True peace. So much of my life, the last few years have been filled with a lot of hard times. Between coping with grief, and heartbreak, and doing what I thought I needed to do because everyone else was doing it didn't allow me the time to put in the work to grow and evolve. Having silence and peace in my life has been a little jolting but I'm learning that it's a good sign and that I need to enjoy it. 


We were able to celebrate Dolly's Rescueversary! She has been a huge source of peace and happiness this last year and especially with our move. She has been a huge help in my healing and keeps me company during my work-from-home work days. She's really come into her own in our new space and is the happiest I think she's ever been. As hard as this move was on me, I do think it was a lot for her to take in. But over time she learned to trust the space and all the new people she has met and enjoys her days in her cat hammock and curled up on our couch. She has learned how to open doors recently... so we'll see what else she learns soon enough! 


This year also came with a lot of blog milestones! I have really leaned into having an Amazon Storefront, grown my TikTok to over 19k followers & over 800k likes, and have had amazing partnership opportunities because of people like you! So thank you from the bottom of my heart whether you found me today or you started this journey with me almost five years ago! I am so ready for what 28 will bring. 

Thursday, September 1, 2022

August 2022 Amazon Best Sellers


 And just like that another month has come and gone. August was full of celebrations, travels, and New Orleans firsts for me. It's been such a whirlwind summer but I'm excited for the fall, my birthday, and college football to be back!


I wanted to share the most purchase items from my Amazon Storefront from last month. As a reminder, anything you buy after you enter Amazon through my Storefront does help me earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! You can shop everything in this post by clicking on the image or the word below the image. Happy Shopping!














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