Taking a break from the letters this week. Reliving some of these things really does take a toll, and honestly, I’m just feeling a little drained right now! So instead, this week, I just want to share 7 things that are bringing me a lot of joy lately, and that I’m excited to carry with me into July, and really, the last half of the year~

1. keeping my room as cozy as possible.

   it’s no secret that I love fairy lights, so having my curtain lights on every night (thanks Alexa, for handling that timer), and stung behind my bed adds a cozy glow in my room. I’ve also bene loving candles from Posh Candle Co. lately, and have been burning the “Black Girl Magic” scent a lot lately (other favorites from them include Classic Denim Jeans and Kind of a Homebody). I also got a cute little shelf to keep some of my plants on, and out of Margot’s reach, and that’s added a nice little touch to the space! And finally, sleeping with a weighted blanket has been doing wonders for my slight insomnia. It’s super relaxing, and makes me feel like a perfect little burrito.

2. netflix + youtube

   the familiarity of a show you’ve seen 139043098 times (cough cough, The Office and Parks and Rec), has been so comforting lately and always puts a smile on my face! as for YouTube, I really enjoy Good Mythical Morning (though I haven’t been watching lately, oops), Kyrah Stewart, and The Try Guys!

3. a good breakfast sandwich, or a smoothie

   now that some restaurants are opening back up near us, I’ve been able to snag delicious bagel sandwiches in the morning again. yes, we made them at home a lot too, but one that I didn’t have to make myself and then clean up afterwards just kind of hits different. as for smoothies, I’ve been making a crap ton of smoothies all year, even pre-quarantine, but got more invested in ingredients as quarantine progressed. my go-to right now is a classic strawberry-banana smoothies, with a small handful of fresh blueberries, oatmilk, and the immunity blend from Unicorn Superfoods.

4. staying organized as heck

   if you follow me on instagram, you know I’ve been loving all things from Stoney Clover Lane lately. their items are cute, keep my super organized, and are so well made. I’m a notorious “big bag” person, so inside my work bag (this Everlane tote), there’s always at least one SCL pouch, filled with essentials, plus an extra mask, pens, and sometimes even my Switch.

5. speaking of Switch…

   ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS. since it came out in March, this came has brought me so much joy. my first AC games was City Folk back in 2008, and I loved it. it was so relaxing, and just so fun. nothing has changed, and this game is really bringing me so much happiness right now.

6. looking forward to the holidays

   alright, I know it’s early, but if you’ve followed me on the blog or social media from the start, you know that I absolutely live for the second half of the year! specifically, the last quarter of the year. fall and Christmas are my absolute favorite things. I also LOVE giving gifts, so now is the time that I start planning for the holiday season (not that it’s about gifts, but I just really enjoy finding the perfect gift for someone). for my 6-month shopping plan - check here!

7. Leo season

   I was never really into horoscopes or anything, but as i’ve gotten older, I learned that I really am a fire sign through and through (but my Virgo ascendant and moon are also HUGE parts of my personality). from an early age, my birthday has been one of my favorite days of the year, for no reason other than it literally is like your own personal holiday. like everything this year, my birthday is going to look a little different, but I still plan on making the most of the day (jk I celebrate for the entirety of the month), and enjoying every minute of it!

8. (a bonus thing for good luck)

   practicing the heck out of self care! for me this month, it looks like: really taking care of my skin (not just products - though I’m loving this Vitamin C serum from Summer Fridays right now - but also with hydration, better sleep, and of course, staying on top of washing my pillowcases); making fun little pastel star bracelets, having a cozy space (see #1), exercising (I love these bands for squats), and saying NO when I need to!