REPORT #8: Snow, Snow, Snow

Hi! For anyone who is newer, my name is Riley and I started this blog back in September as a creative outlet in the midst of a stressful senior year of college. I was wanting to tell someone, anyone that would listen about what I was reading, where I had been traveling, and just anything else I could think of. These REPORTs are an idea stolen from a few accounts on Instagram where I share some things that have been making my life great. I am not a big spender, nor am I a big enough blog to be sent things for free. So if I talk about something on here, I really love it. This past week has been snow after snow, so I’ve enjoyed lots of home cooked meals, naps, and then my first full week of full-time work. Though I have had a bit of cabin fever, this time with my family and puppy has been irreplaceable and I’m grateful to have a family that is so easy to spend time with. Now onto the REPORT…

Reading – This week I FINALLY finished Heat of the Everflame by Penn Cole. This book was over 1000 pages and definitely could have been split into two. I then read Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli. I have been wanting to read this for a while and while it definitely felt like the introductory book in a fantasy series, I still really liked it. After that, I read the Enemy by Sarah Adams through my library. This was just a fun rom-com, but it was maybe my least favorite by the author simply because of the trope (enemies for absolutely no reason to lovers AND “I hate men because one was bad”). As of now, I am over 150 pages into The Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli, the second in the Trial of the Sun Queen series.

Eating – This week’s Hall of Fame has featured…

Chicken Tortilla Soup – This is literally the only soup I’ll eat and it has been the best with the bitter cold winter we’re having.
Sheet Pan Dinners – These are so easy to whip up, and I really loved this recipe I found on Pinterest.
Banana Bread – No one has ever claimed that my mom’s banana bread is healthy, but it is one of my all-time favorites that she makes.

Playing – The songs on repeat this week are the following: last night’s mascara by Griff, Die With A Smile by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Let Me Touch Your Fire by A R I Z O N A, Tie Me Down by Gryffin, and the entire playlist in the cover photo (Sunday’s cycle playlist!).

Obsessing – This week was the first week of Kids Baking Championship (every Monday @ 8pm EST on Food Network), and this is one thing my family can all agree on. We literally carve out this hour to sit and watch, getting so invested in these kids and their creations. Mom always laughs at Duff’s bad jokes and Dad gets way too worried about each kid. Kaelin and I tend to really critique decorating and flavors. So much fun!

Recommending – Being back at home means resuming my membership at CyclST8, my favorite local cycle studio. Fitness classes are so good for my mental health personally, so I do my best to attend 4-5 classes a week. I try to make it to the gym for weights and walking on the treadmill as well, but a class where I can just jam out to music and do what the instructor says is the best.

Treating – I do my best not to go to Target because I end up spending way too much, but I got some giftcards and had been really thinking about a few things. Here’s what I got…

Elf Halo Glow – This is the perfect makeup for me in the winter because it blends so well and make my skin look more sun-kissed rather than its usual paleness.
Essence Brow Gel – I tried the Elf Brow Gel and it just dried up so quickly! I’ve heard good things about Essence, and the price on this was perfect.
Brightroom 4-Tier Shoe Shelf – I bought one of these back in high school, and it is still in GREAT condition. I’ve been needing another one due to my increasing shoe collection, and Target was running 20% off storage for college students!
High-Rise Sailor Wide Leg Ankle Jeans – I got these jeans a few months ago in a darker wash and I LOVE THEM. I found them at my Target for $28 in a light wash, and I immediately bought them. I have been needing to get new jeans because my old ones just aren’t flattering anymore, and Target has been the magic place for professional yet stylish jeans for me.

That’s all for today! Thanks for reading my rambling. See you Wednesday!