Favorites – A Spoonful of Honi

Spring Favorites | 2021

Kimberly — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 13:00:44 +0000

I can’t believe it’s already summer here in Nashville. The months are flying by, especially since life is really returning “back to normal” with vaccines being widely available and the warm weather here to stay. I’m wrapping up a few things I loved over the last few months with a spring favorites list. Let’s get started! one | mood boards I create mood boards every month and create a type of collage in my planner. Not only do I love curating the images, but I love scrapbooking them into my daily routine. Being reminded of the things I’m inspired by on a regular basis is a great way to live. two | these work pants from Amazon These pants are the Holy Grail of pants. They’re stretchy, paper bag style, and come in a ton of different colors. What’s not to love? I already own a pair in black and mauve. three | Untamed by Glennon Doyle I feel like I say this about every memoir I read, but boy, did this one hit me where it hurts. Glennon and I have a lot in common, more than I’d like to admit when it comes to our need to control, but I truly loved this book. It’s odd because most people wouldn’t think that they could relate to a famous writer who left her husband to marry a famous soccer player, but Untamed is further proof that underneath the shine, people are just people. We all have our quirks and flaws that unite us as human. I was skeptical when I first started this book, but Doyle’s writing builds and grows with the reader and hopefully, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be taking photos of passages in the book and sending them to your boyfriend because you relate to them so much. four | reading This sounds silly since I run a blog about books, but I’ve been reading so many amazing books lately, I feel like I’ve fallen back in love with it. I’ve been taking days and just having reading marathons with myself. I feel like a kid again, and it feels so darn good. five | black denim jacket I wear this jacket at least three times a week. It goes with everything, and elevates any outfit from something simple to something I at least look like I tried to coordinate. six | traveling My boyfriend and I have been fully vaccinated for about a month now, and upcoming travel is a must. We took a trip to Atlanta when we were half-vaccinated, and we have a trip to Raleigh and Chattanooga coming up in our future. It’s so nice to be able to safely plan trips again! seven | the gold slides I rarely wear heels, so finding an appropriate work shoe can be difficult sometimes. These gold mules are perfect for the office and a casual day out for drinks. eight | ilia mascara Did I tell you guys I found the best mascara for my eyelashes? I was using Too Faced Better Than Sex, and I loved how it went on in the morning, but by mid-afternoon, it looked like I had nothing on my lashes. This mascara lasts all day and lengthens my lashes by miles. nine | From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout I finally read the most popular book on TikTok, and it was well worth it. It’s hard to explain without ruining the twists and turns that make the book so amazing, but there’s sexy guards, re-branded vampires, a country in need of saving, and a bad-ass girl with a dagger. What more do you need? ten | spending time with friends & family again Thank goodness for vaccinations, right? My schedule has been packed with quality friend and family time for the last month, and my heart could not be happier. As an introvert, I am very tired, but I am also very happyy. Happy adventuring, Kimberly

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Winter Favorites | 2021 Edition

Kimberly — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:30:35 +0000

Spring is springing in Nashville. It hasn’t quite sprung, but I’m definitely getting the feeling that winter is coming to a close and warmer days are ahead. To honor the changing of the seasons, I wanted to share a little wrap up of the things I’ve been loving over the last few months. Let’s get started! one | brush hair dryer I bought this hair dryer back in January, and it has truly changed my life. I’ve never known how to blow dry my hair, and this brush makes it so easy. It only takes about 15 minutes. All I have to do after I’m done drying my hair now is run my straightener over it a few times, and I am good to go for the day. I go almost a full week without having to wash my hair now. This is life changing. two | amazon sweater I have recently become a big fan of Amazon fashion. I am going to blame TikTok. I try to shop locally or in person to support local business, but purse strings are a little tighter these days, and I have very little self-control when I see something cute online. This sweater from Amazon (I have it in white) is one of my favorite sweaters. I wear it at least twice a week. It’s super cozy and works with so many outfits. three | storygraph I recently created a Storygraph account to track my reading goals, and I am obsessed. I also use Goodreads (because I am nothing if not thorough), but I also wanted to support a smaller business. I love Storygraph because, not only can you track your reading, but it also recommends books you might like based on what you have been reading and enjoying. It’s so much more helpful than just picking up the popular books I’ve been seeing all over Booktok or Booksta. four | my planner I am obsessed with my planner. I stopped using a planner almost completely last year with the pandemic, but I knew I had a lot of goals I wanted to accomplish this year, so I splurged on a more expensive planner than I normally would for 2021. And let me tell you, it has been worth it. I absolutely love my planner. My favorite thing about Golden Coil planners is that you can almost completely customize it. It’s almost like having a bullet journal without needing the necessary artistic skills. five | madewell slippers My future sister-in-law gifted me some fuzzy slippers from Madewell (similar to what is linked), and I am in love with them. I keep them at my boyfriend’s apartment, and it completely elevates my Sunday mornings. Such a small thing, but it makes a world of difference. six | at-home workouts (sydney cummings) I started doing at-home workouts in January, and I have found a trainer that I absolutely love. All of her workouts are free on Youtube, and there are so many good options. My roommate has been using her videos to train for almost (maybe over) a year now, and I can see why. With highly curated video playlists and a new video posted every day, there is no lack of choice in my workouts. seven | budgeting hack (waiting to buy myself anything fun until the end of the month) I started a new budgeting “hack” this year, and it has totally changed the game for me. I have a bit of a spending problem sometimes. As I mentioned before, I have no self-control when it comes to seeing something I like. This would cause me to sometimes go over budget without even meaning to. Now, I add anything I might want to purchase to a note in my phone, and, at the end of the month, if I haven’t gone over budget, I get to buy myself presents! This ensures that I stick to my budget, and at the end of the month, I get to celebrate myself and sticking to my goals! eight | it ends with us This was probably my favorite book from the first three months of 2021. Lilly didn’t have an easy childhood. From saving homeless boys from themselves to protecting her mother from her abusive father, she didn’t really get to be a kid. But, she moves to Boston once she graduates from college, and life couldn’t be better. She opens her own flower shop, falls in love with a neurosurgeon, and makes an amazing new best friend. Everything seems perfect, but one day, just 15 seconds, changes everything. When the boy from her past comes back into her life, Lilly doesn’t know what she should do. A beautiful story about love, loss, and second chances, Colleen Hoover is sure to drag you between the covers and leave you wanting more. nine | church I don’t talk about religion a lot, but give me just a few sentences, please. I recently got back into my faith, and I have been loving my daily ritual of listening to a podcast (less than 15 minutes) analyzing the Bible, and I’ve been watching service online almost every Sunday. I love including faith as part of my daily and weekly routines, and it definitely puts me in the right headspace on most days. ten | today’s good things I have been chronicling “today’s good things” on Instagram for almost a year now. I don’t do every day, but I try to do most. It’s a great reminder to be thankful for all the little things that make up a good day. I love the practice of noting my gratitudes, and by framing it as “today’s good things” it takes the pressure off. I’ve noticed a total shift in my attitude and approach to the day when I know I have to find some good things from it. Happy adventuring, Kimberly

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Summer Favorites 2019

Kimberly — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 13:00:29 +0000

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think summer might be almost over. It stays hot in Nashville until mid-late October, but I’m already craving leggings and oversized sweaters. That being said, I’ve really fallen into love with a few things over the past couple of months, so I thought I would share my thoughts on my summer favorites. Let’s get started! 1. Winnie-the-Pooh Mug I have been absolutely loving this mug. My brother and his girlfriend brought it back for me from their trip to Disney a few months ago, and it’s quickly become my favorite mug in my ever-growing collection. I use it every night when I drink tea before bed, and it’s the perfect mug. I love the fun handle and the wide base — I can set it on my bed without it falling over, so it’s perfect to read with a book in hand. In general, I’ve also been loving tea. I drink this green tea throughout the day at work and this detox tea at night before bed. 2. Coconut Scented Hand Cream Apparently, I’m on a coconut scent kick. I’ve been loving both of these hand creams so much. The J.R. Watkins Coconut Milk & Honey Hand Cream is a bit thicker since it’s shea butter, which I don’t always love, but it moisturizes my hands like a dream. The Love Beauty And Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Hand Lotion is a bit lighter, so it’s perfect to use throughout the day without worrying about it smearing on anything. It absorbs completely into my hands almost immediately. 3. Fuzzy Slippers I’m here to admit that I was influenced by Grace Atwood, and it was totally worth it. She was raving about these slippers a few months back, and I had them on my Amazon wishlist for forever. I finally bit the bullet and got them for my new place, and I absolutely love them. They are super soft and squishy, and perfect for padding around the house doing mundane things like wiping the counters or watching Bachelor in Paradise. 4. Statement Earrings Usually, I’m a simple studs kind of gal when it comes to earrings, but lately, I’ve been gravitating toward statement earrings. My favorite way to wear these is with my hair up in either a bun or power-pony so the earrings are on full display. My favorite pairs are these ribbon-wrapped bow hoops from J. Crew and these pink resin bows from SUGARFIX by BaubleBar. Despite not being the girliest of girls, I will always fall for a bow. 5. Floral Prints I bought these prints for my room, and I’m obsessed with them. I’ve always been drawn to floral patterns, and these are the perfect decor item for over my bed. I found them day two of shopping for decor, and I thought I would find something better, but I was always drawn back to them. I ultimately bought them and hung them (all by myself!). When I walk in my room, I’m immediately pleased since I’m greeted by such cute prints. What have you been loving this summer? Let me know in the comments below. Happy adventuring, Kimberly

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18 Things I Loved in 2018

Kimberly — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 14:00:41 +0000

We are seven days into the new year, but I’m still not over 2018. I feel like I still have so much to say about those 365 days. This is (probably) my last post about 2018, and moving forward I am all about 2019, the new year, new goals, and everything in between. Check back on Wednesday for a look into my goals for the next 12 months. Before officially moving on, I wanted to do a little wrap up of all the products, habits, books, and random things I was loving in 2018, so let’s get started! ...

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September Favorites

Kimberly — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:00:15 +0000

September has been a fantastic month for me full of friendship and new adventures. During the beginning of the month, I took a quick trip to North Carolina to visit a friend in Raleigh and a friend in Charlotte. Then, when I got back to Nashville, one of my best friends came to visit that I hadn’t seen in almost a year. It was so great to see all these old friends before jumping into a new job later in the month. I don’t want to say too much about it, but so far, I am really loving the transition and learning a lot! I haven’t done a favorites post in awhile, so some of these favorites have been things I’ve been loving for awhile, but let’s get started! ...

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June Favorites

Kimberly — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 13:55:20 +0000

Another month has come and gone, and I think June was one of my favorite months so far this year (and that’s saying something). I met some new friends, made some new memories, and got to visit old friends as well. Something I’ve really been loving is reflecting on my months in my bullet journal, and I know I’ll have a lot to say about June. I’ve been loving a lot of things this month, but I whittled it down to my top five. Let’s get started! 1. Skincare I’ve always loved makeup, but a part of me has always cried at having to shell out money for skincare. I know it’s important, but can you blame a girl for cringing at $30 face wash? I’ve finally accepted that to feel like my best self, I need to invest the money in good skincare. My friend gifted me a full-sized bottle of the Tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel, and I’ve been loving it ever since. I noticed a difference immediately in how my skin looked and felt, and I will never look back from this gentle cleanser. I also switched to this St. Ive’s Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub that I use in the shower, and it smells amazing. One of my friends used it when I was visiting him, and he loved it just as much as I did. And, last but not least, I finally found a moisturizer that I love. I’ve never been a fan of lotions (it’s something about the way it makes my skin feel after), but this CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion has been recommended to me by dozens of people. I can honestly say it hasn’t disappointed. It’s on the cheaper side (I’ve been using it for almost two months now, and I don’t think I’m more than a quarter of the way through the bottle), and it’s lighter than other moisturizer’s I’ve used. I highly, highly recommend. 2. The Bachelorette I joined Bachelor nations ages after a lot of other people, but I’m happy to say I have finally jumped on the wagon. I started watching it during Nick Viall’s season with my roommate at school, and now one of my friends is home for the summer break, and we watch Becca’s season together every Monday. My favorite thing about watching the show is having someone to watch it with. I cook us dinner, and we settle in on the couch for two hours to watch the drama unfold. The most important thing to remember when watching The Bachelorette is that everything is done for TV and not to take anything too seriously. After that, just sit back and enjoy (and try not to think about how you’re wasting some prime reading hours watching trashy television). 3. Journaling I’ve been journaling like crazy lately. It’s the best way for me to process my feelings, and it’s help me channel my emotions and understand what I want out of life. Whether it’s been a good day or a bad day, the day doesn’t feel complete without journaling about some of my feelings throughout the day. I have a really simply journal that I picked up from Michael’s, but spending just fifteen minutes a night writing about what I’m feeling has changed the way I sleep and the way I attack each day. I can’t recommend journaling enough to people who struggle with anxiety or depression. Documenting your feelings changes everything. 4. Headbands I’m not talking Blair Waldorf style headbands, I’m talking those fabric headbands that wrap around your head. I never thought I could pull these off, mostly because they always slip off my head, but I have been loving this one I got from Target. It actually stays on my head, and I’ve surprisingly gotten a lot of compliments on it. It makes days when I don’t want to do my hair (I have naturally curly hair) a breeze, and it’s great for hot summer nights when my hair is just going to frizz anyway. It’s perfect for summer picnics and lazy days, and when I leave my hair natural, the texture in it holds the headband in place! If you’ve always wanted to rock the headband look, I would try rocking it this summer — you never know what will end up working out. 5. Dinah If you haven’t seen a thousand photos of this cat yet, then I don’t know where you’ve been hiding. I’ve been in Norfolk, VA visiting a friend this week, and he recently got a cat, Dinah. She is the most precious thing I have ever encountered. To be honest, she’s incredibly needy and she does things (like jump on the counter) that make me yell at her, but I still love her to pieces. She’s quirky, loving, and very vocal about her needs (meaning she’s woken me up with her meows more than a handful of times). She has a huge personality, and an even bigger heart. I loved her before I met her, and I love her even more now. If you want to see more picture of her, I have an entire camera roll full of her beautiful face. After such a wonderful month, I can’t wait to see what July has in store. I already have plans to travel and host friends in Nashville, so hopefully I can find some new things to love and obsess over. Happy adventuring, Kimberly

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April Favorites

Kimberly — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 15:00:02 +0000

April was a bit of a wacky month for me. My friend from Germany visited at the end of March, which threw my first week of April off balance since I didn’t prep for the week like normal. And then, in the middle of April, I went to Virginia for a weekend, which threw me off again for an entire week. Even though it was a bit wonky, I made some amazing memories with old and new friends, and found some new things to love. Let’s get started with my April favorites! 1. Dresses with Jean Jackets I’m the queen of wearing a self-imposed uniform, and I can already tell my spring go-to outfit is going to consist of jean jackets and dresses. It’s seriously the easiest combo to throw on, and I instantly feel more put together than I do with any other pairing. I also love it because, for me, it’s work appropriate with a good pair of flats. You can dress it up with heels, or dress it down with sneakers (my pick is always white Converse). It also instantly makes any dress look more day-time appropriate. 2. Podcasts I’ve been listening to podcasts like crazy — when I’m at work, when I’m folding laundry, when I’m cooking dinner. Seriously, it’s been non-stop. I think I like podcasts more than audiobooks because I don’t have to devote my attention to them entirely. It’s like watching “Friends” for the 100th time — you can throw it on in the background, and you won’t really miss anything (unlike an audiobook which I felt I had to listen to very intently). Here are some of my favorite podcasts so far: Gilmore Guys — Hosted by Kevin (long time fan) and Demi (first time viewer) where they break down each episode with fun bits and just talk about each episode. Young PR Pros — This podcast is hosted by a handful of PR professionals in Canada at different points in their careers. They give advice about jobs in general and working in the public relations field. No Such Thing As A Fish — This is a weekly podcast from Quite Interesting where four researchers share the most interesting facts they learned over the last week, and then they discuss. It’s really entertaining, and I can’t listen to it at work because I laugh too hard. 3. Chokers I think I jumped on this bandwagon way past its prime, but I’m finally into chokers. Sticking with my classic style, I prefer dainty chokers to thick ribbons around my neck. There’s just something about this style that makes me feel like I’m at least a little bit fashionable. I also like them because they work with almost any neckline and you can layer necklaces more easily. 4. The Financial Diet Ever since moving out on my own and starting a career, I’ve been highly anxious about money (truthfully, I’ve always been anxious about money, but now, it’s actually based on something real — being on my own and having to live within my budget). I found this YouTube channel called, “The Financial Diet,” and it’s been an awesome resource for me. With tips from how to budget for a big move to things the creators wish they had known before they accepted a job offer, TFD has something for everyone looking to be a little more responsible with their money. They also have a book that I’m planning to read in the near future! 5. My Used “Winnie-the-Pooh” Book Collection It might be a bit pre-mature to say I have a used book collection dedicated to Winnie-the-Pooh, but I started this month, and I am obsessed. I went to Norfolk to visit my best friend this month, and every time I visit, we always go to this amazing used bookstore nearby called “The Way We Were.” He always finds incredible books, and we could seriously spend hours tucked into the corners of this store. During this trip, he happened to find an old, battered copy of “Winnie the Pooh” from 1926 (the year it was originally published), and offered it to me to purchase, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to afford it, so I let him take it. He has an awesome relationship with the shop owner, and he ended up just giving him the book, which he then ended up giving to me. I may or may not have cried a little, and I get so excited when I see this displayed on my bookshelf every day. I know this is just the start of what is going to be an incredibly meaningful collection to me. 6. Bullet Journaling I’ve been bullet journaling since the beginning of 2018. I was looking for a way to utilize my planner without have three different notebooks. I was using the Passion Planner for a little bit, but ultimately, it wasn’t for me. I felt over-managed with it’s hourly scheduling instead of organized and efficient. If you don’t know, with bullet journaling, you start with a blank notebook and basically create your own planner to fit your lifestyle. The basic premise of bullet journaling is to be as simple as possible, but it’s turned into a very flowery way to be artistic and organized. When I originally started bullet journaling, I kept things pretty black and white. But in April, I decided to be a little more creative and utilize some of the spreads I saw online like mood trackers, habit trackers, and more. I absolutely loved setting it up and stretching my creative muscles. Even though I’m not the best sketcher in the world, I still try to have fun drawing and making simple doodles. I also felt like this layout kept me more focused on my work and personal goals this month, which is the main reason I switched to bullet journaling in the first place. I’ve already set up my May spreads, and I’m so excited to get started with the fresh month! Let me know what you’ve been loving throughout April in the comments below! Happy adventuring, Kimberly

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March Favorites

Kimberly — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 18:34:21 +0000

This post is something a little new and different for me, but I’m all about stepping out of my comfort zone in 2018. I’m not sure if I’ll do monthly favorites every month, but one of my favorite bloggers, Carly the Prepster, does an “On My Radar” post every Friday that I really enjoy, so I thought I’d try and create some series with a similar theme to Carly’s here on my blog. I’ve been trying a lot of new things in March and loving almost all of them, so let’s get started with my March 2018 favorites! 1. Gold Hair Tie Bracelet As a member of the female population, I always have a hair elastic on my wrist — always. Therefore, I always have a cute little indent circling my wrist when my hair is in a ponytail from said hair elastic. I’ve seen “hair tie bracelets” circling around on the Internet for some time now, but I finally broke down and purchased this gold hair bangle from My Hair Tie Bracelets back in January, and I am in love. Not only does it ad a cute pop of gold to my outfits, it also keeps my wrists from screaming at the lack of blood flow (there is no pain like the pain of breaking in a new hair tie on your wrist). It’s become a staple in my collection that I wouldn’t know what to do without. 2. Weight Lifting My fitness challenge to myself in March was to incorporate more heavy lifting into my workouts and finally face my fear of the squat rack at the gym. Adding these exercises into my routine and actually focusing on the muscles each movement works has changed my life completely. Along with facing my (irrational) fear of the assisted squat rack, I’ve also managed to push my self to lift more weight each time I enter the gym, and I’ve already seen an impressive change in my body. Along with adding weighted squats and deadlifts to my routine, I’ve also been dedicating more time to other weight focused workouts like curls, bench presses, rows, etc. It’s always been something I felt took up a lot of time at the gym, but it’s worth it for how it leaves me feeling physically and mentally. 3. Essential Oils My mom got me into essential oils a little over a year ago, but with moving and crazy life changes, I wasn’t diffusing them as much as I did when I was at school. I recently started using them again every night while I sleep, and I absolutely love it. I’m going to admit that there isn’t a noticeable difference in the quality of sleep I’m getting or my mood, but it’s come to be a part of a routine I truly enjoy. I like to diffuse Lavender since it’s said to relax the mind and body, but I’ve also been diffusing a blend called “Joy,” that my mom got me which is said to uplift and inspire. 4. Skill Share As most of you know, I abstained from Facebook and Instagram during the month of March. I didn’t have as much free time as I thought I would, but I made an effort to partake in more stimulating activities during this time, one of those being Skill Share. This is basically a website where you can learn about anything your heart desires. It’s more formal than YouTube but less restrictive than online classes from a university. I chose to focus on Google Analytics/AdWords courses and writing seminars when I started out, but there are courses covering every topic under the moon. Courses also range from just under 20 minutes to over an hour in length, so you can set aside as much time as you like to learn. Try Skill Share for two months for free. 5. E.L.F. Lip Plumping Gloss I’ve never really been a fan of lipgloss since it leaves my lips sticky and I can’t drink a cup of tea without leaving gloss all over the brim, but I have to admit I fell hard for the E.L.F. Lip Plumping Gloss over the last month. I bought it to get my cart up to $50 for free shipping on Ulta, and it’s ended up being one of my favorite purchases. It does tingle, but nothing has left my lips feeling as nourished as this lip gloss. It also lasts a surprising amount of time for a gloss, and isn’t too over the top, so I feel totally comfortable wearing it to work or out to dinner. 6. Netflix Original Series I finished not one, but two Netflix Original Series this month — “Altered Carbon” and “Stranger Things.” I highly recommend both shows — I don’t know why it took me so long to jump on the “Stranger Things” bandwagon, but I have finally arrived. “Altered Carbon” is set in a futuristic world that’s a bit more lawless than the one we know now. People’s brains (kind of?) are stored in devices called stacks that can be transferred between bodies, meaning death doesn’t have to be final in this world. When former traitor to his people, Takeshi Kovacs is brought back to life to solve a murder, death, sex, and unexpected alliances ensue making “Altered Carbon” one of the best Netflix series I’ve watched thus far. It’s a really well told story based on the book series by Richard Morgan. And if you don’t already know, “Stranger Things” is a sci-fi, semi-horror show that has a handful of kids uncovering supernatural forces, secret government experiments, and more in the name of friendship. I hate to admit it, but it really is as fantastic as everyone says (I even binged “Beyond Stranger Things” after my friend recommended it). The actors are insanely talented and the story is engaging and suspenseful. I could not recommend both of these shows more if you haven’t seen them already. 7. Sonia Kashuk Blender Sponge I know this sounds weird, but hear me out — this beauty sponge is life changing. I’ve been looking for a cruelty free beauty sponge I like since the beginning of 2018, and I’ve finally found it. Unpopular opinion, but I really don’t like the Real Techniques complexion sponge — it soaks up way too much foundation in my opinion and leaves my skin looking like I rolled paint on it. I’ve been using the L’Oreal Beauty Blender since summer, but since it’s not cruelty free, I want to cut it out of my routine. The Sonia Kashuk Blender Sponge is perfect, and it doesn’t break the bank. I’m absolutely in love with the texture and design, and it comes in multiple shapes and sizes. What’s not to love? So, there you have it — some things I’ve been loving in March. While March was a great month, I’m super excited for the warmth and adventures April promises to bring. Are there any things you’ve been loving in March? Let me know in the comments below! Until next time, Kimberly

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