One Fine Day

I look forward to going some place every spring - I'm currently in the process of choosing my next destination! While I'm searching through all the travel guides, I'm also picking out my spring favorites to bring along with me. There are some good ones this year, you guys! I am obsessed (majorly!) with the palm print swimsuit - the tassels are SO adorable, and the top & bottom are only $24 each. I tried to pick one thing from each category - a swimsuit, a sandal, a pair of shorts, etc. Most of these are pretty affordable....the blue bikini is only $12!!! The tassel tote is under $20, and the sunglasses look designer but are only $69. Also, how pretty is this white dress? I've recently discovered this website Red Dress Boutique and I want like 90% of their website....they have the cutest things! PS I'm having trouble linking the hair scarf...it's from ASOS.

Anyway, I wanted to get this post out yesterday, but I ended up spending the day in Malibu & Santa Monica. So fun driving past the Bachelor mansion on the way to the beach on Bachelor Monday! How basic am I?? xoxo

There are two things I will always be in the market for: white tops and eyelet tops. This one is both and I looove it! The flowy fit, the sleeves, and the tunic length make it a spring & summer staple top. And the best part is it's $10....it's been quite a while since I've seen an all-cotton top with pretty detailing for that cheap. I would totally wear this with shorts, a straw or rattan bag, and a straw hat. I wore it with this neon Kate Spade purse (from 2 years ago) because neon is coming back this season, and I love the contrast it has with the white!

Have you ever shopped at Shein? I had never ordered from them because I had my doubts about the quality, how long shipping would take, how returns worked, etc. But, I gave it a chance a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised!! I will say that sometimes it doesn't work out - I ordered a dress that had thin, coarse fabric and didn't fit right (it was only $11 hah). All the other things I got worked out really well, though! I always read customer reviews, especially the ones with pictures, before I order, because that gives me a good idea of what the item's going to be like. This top is one of the best things I've got from them yet. PS - I only order from them when they offer free shipping, which seems to happen about 3x a week. The shipping is always fast, too....I typically get my package in 4 days, which is great considering it's an international order. There is free shipping today, so now's the time to order! :)

Talk to you soon xoxo

I am soooo happy to say I am all done with my braces 😁 It went way differently than I anticipated - I was quoted 10 months because my teeth didn't need much fixing, but I ended up having them on just shy of two years - 22 months to be exact! It turns out, my teeth were SUPER stubborn and took so long to move. I made this a longer post, and I also included embarrassing photos (that aren't very good!), haha! But I wanted to give you a real review.

I got braces because it was my last chance for orthodontic treatment while I was still under my dad's insurance. Once I turned 26, no more coverage....so before it was too late, I used up my benefit. The process for getting ortho approval was quite lengthy, at least with our insurance. It took almost a whole year before I was able to have the braces put on - they required lots and lots of evidence to prove that I needed braces, not just for cosmetic reasons, before they agreed to cover them. I think I had to send in 5 or 6 different X-Rays and molds from different dentists, surgeons, etc., and they took forever to accept each one.

Taken the day before treatment began

I opted for traditional metal braces because I was not self-conscious about them at all. I could've done clear ones or Invisalign, but those are more high maintenance and I wasn't in the mood to deal with that honestly! To start the process, my dentist put spacers in a day or two before I had the braces put on. They were the most painful part of the whole process!! I heard others say they weren't bothered by them.....not in my case. They're hard, stiff little rubber bands that are wedged in between your back teeth to make space for the braces, and they really dug into my gums and made me go crazy. The next most painful things were the bands - they're "anchors" that go around your back teeth to plant the braces in place. They were extremely tight and caused immense pressure that was very noticeable for the first two weeks.

First day with spacers - you can see one of them (it's blue!)

My mouth had a hard time adjusting to all the metal hardware, especially the parts that were sharper. I formed a lot of blisters inside my cheeks / gum-line (sorry if this is TMI), and I went through tons of wax (which really did help). In the first 5-6 months, I broke 5 brackets. That's something you want to try and avoid, because it means another trip to the dentist to get the bracket replaced & a fee for the replacement. Luckily, my dentist covered the first 3, but I think it was $30 per bracket after that. You have to learn how to chew in a more gentle way so as to not pop the brackets off your teeth, which is difficult because your eating habits are mostly inadvertent. You basically have to re-train your mouth. After about 6 months, I adjusted and never broke another bracket.

3 months into treatment

During the treatment process, I had monthly tightenings at the dentist. I got my wires replaced, either with the same one or thicker one, depending on my progress. By one year of treatment, I was very used to the braces. I only experienced discomfort in the days following each tightening or if I formed a blister from a ligature. Just FYI - ligatures are basically wire knots that the dentist applies to a bracket to gauge a tooth in a certain direction. My dentist had to put several on me over the course of treatment, because he had to control which way some teeth moved if they were in the wrong direction. Those were super annoying and caused me lots of blisters, but they did move my teeth well.

I also had chains put on, which are very thick, tiny rubber band chains that are pulled really tight across all your teeth. They bring your teeth together & make them super tight! I formed a gap in my front teeth at some point, and the chains completely closed that gap. I only had the chains for a couple of months....the dentist took them off/put them on a couple of times to make sure my teeth could sustain the tightness on their own.

A photo of my chains

6 months into treatment

17 months into treatment

The last 3-4 months of my treatment were all about fine-tuning. My teeth were about 95% done, but there was still room for improvement. A couple of teeth still needed help shifting. My dentist focused on getting each tooth as perfectly positioned as possible. The last couple of months were actually spent only working on 2 or 3 teeth while the others were already perfectly straight. Once he got all of my teeth as good as they could possibly get, he took the braces off!

Seconds before they were taken off....my last photo with braces!

Seconds after they were taken off....not my best picture! I was in shock! Hahah

As for retainers, I had 3 options: plastic, metal, or bonded. The plastic ones were included in my treatment, AKA free. However - these are not good for long-term. They don't last long, they get discolored (plastic stains easily), and they don't keep your teeth in place as well. Bonded retainers are permanent wires that are glued to the back of your teeth. I highly considered this option because it meant I would never have to take retainers in & out, worry about losing them, etc. - but I decided against them because I didn't want something on my teeth that I couldn't remove. I got metal retainers, which are pricey, but they're removable and will keep my teeth in place.

The last thing I wanted to talk about is my post-braces situation. I tried my best to keep my teeth clean during treatment - the Waterpik saved my life!! If you don't have one, you need to invest in one. They really aren't too expensive, and they clean your teeth SO well. I used to get cavities yearly (and have had two root canals) until I started Waterpiking. Anyway, I did as much as I could to maintain a healthy smile, but bacteria and tarter inevitably built up underneath the braces. I had my teeth cleaned immediately after the braces removed, and right now I'm doing a round of these whitestrips. I have very sensitive teeth, so I usually opt for the gentle formula. If you don't have sensitive teeth, this 'Glamorous White' formula is fantastic as well (I've tried it and loved the results).

BTW - if you're local to my area and need a dentist/orthodontist, Dr. King in Canoga Park is AH.MA.ZING. He is the best dentist I have ever been to, and I've been to my fair share of horrible dentists...I'm talking nightmare status!! You will absolutely love Dr. King. He's got the nicest disposition, really cares for each patient, and does a fantastic job on taking care of your teeth. I don't even get scared when it's time for cleanings, or even fillings, when I go to him.

I'm not sure how exciting this post was - in fact, I almost didn't publish it cause I kept thinking, "Who would want to read about my teeth?!" But I remember before I got braces, I heavily relied on others' experiences. So I hope this gave you some insight if you're considering them! If not, hopefully it was entertaining! Let me know if you have any questions! xoxo

Hey guys! I've been wanting to do a try-on haul of some sort for a while now, and I was in Target the other day and found TONS of adorable workout gear. I took the opportunity to totally stock up! These pieces I'm sharing today are really versatile....you can easily mix & match some of the leggings, bras, and tops to create multiple outfits. Even if you only buy a couple of pieces, you can pair them in new ways so you can get more than one look out of them. PS - there's a $10 off $40 promo right now, and all of these items are included! And did I mentioned everything is under $40!? Anyway, let's get started 😊




I'm wearing these tennis shoes in all the photos, and I wanted to let you know they run super wide. I have very narrow feet, and my ankles were sliding around in these. I might recommend sizing a half-down - they are really comfortable and lightweight (and only $35) so you don't want to miss 'em. Sorry the photos aren't the greatest quality....we had yet another rainy day, and I had to take what I could get when it came to lighting haha. Hope you enjoyed this try-on haul! xoxo

Hope you've had a great Wednesday! Today I'm sharing this floral button-up top I found from Revolve. Have you ever shopped there? I placed an order for the first time a week or two ago, and I'm pretty certain I will be ordering from them again. They have such cute things - take this blouse, for example. It's my favorite color, and the buttons and ruffles add soft, feminine touches that make this an ideal piece for spring. I wore it with light wash denim, but it would be super cute with dark blue or even white jeans.

Nothing major to report around here....the only thing going on in my life worth sharing at the moment is this new ice cream I found at Trader Joe's. It's the Cookie Butter flavor and omggggg - MUST TRY! I've had the Cookie Butter cookies before (which are so good), and the ice cream is on another level. Yum!! Anwho - that's all for now xoxo

As much as I love a pretty dress for Valentine's Day, I do also love a good top + jeans + shoes combo. Sometimes I just feel more comfortable in that versus a dress, especially when it's cold outside! This chiffon top is a Prime find (two-day shipping!) and is under $20 - perfect for alllll you gal-entines. I love it with a cute pair of distressed jeans & heels for dressing up, or even flats for day-to-day running around. I would love to pair it was a nude-colored jacket, like this suede one.

Do you have plans for V-Day? I have no idea what I'm doing yet. Date? Party? Who knows - I may just stay in with take-out, candy, & Charlie Brown! Those all sound great to me haha. I got the cutest Valentine's cards at Papryrus today...can't wait to share them with you guys on IG stories. Oh! And I met one of my favorite bloggers while at the mall! Darylann is one of the sweetest people ever - I've loved following her on Instagram, and she and her husband (and sweet newborn!) are so genuine and fun to talk to in real life. Love love them! Be sure to follow her blog Something Beautiful, you'll love it! ❤️ talk to you soon xoxo