The Real Deal

 I present to you: my favorite quarantine purchase ever!  I have been thinking about doing something like this for awhile but always held off because I assumed my spin studio would open back up as everything else was.  However, since my spin studio was a locally owned business instead of a chain, it suffered from COVID-19 and closed permanently.  I started doing other workouts at home but nothing was really sticking like spinning was for me.  What sealed the deal for me was a post in a Facebook group I saw asking about recommendations for exercise bikes on Amazon.  After looking through the suggestions and doing research on YouTube and Amazon reviews, I made the purchase.  It's the best decision I've made don't regret this one bit! Bike //  So the bike I purchased was the Sunny Health and Fitness Exercise Cycling Bike .  It has a 49lb. chrome fly wheel and even came with tools to put it together!  My dad set it up for me and said he didn...

 How has another month passed already?  Also disclaimer for this post: I read a lot  this month.  Like no new shows to add to this list and only one movie!  Pretty much all I did this month was read because I was just so in the mood to read and I'm going to utilize this feeling.  So this is basically a "What I Read in August + One Movie I Also Watched".  Let me know what you read or watched this month and happy September! Pic is from a socially distant dinner with a friend.  Pizza outside was much needed! BOOKS The Heir Affair  by Heather Cocks: 9/10 // So this book is the sequel to The Royal We  which is basically fan fiction about Prince William and Kate.  I read the first book freshman year of college and the sequel came out this year and let me tell you, I was so  excited!  It was a little hard to get into at first since I didn't really remember how the first one ended since it's been five years since I read it, but my...

 It's been a little over one year since I moved home after college and my room is pretty much the exact same as when we moved into this house when I was in eighth grade.  Even down to the light blue wall paint that I was obsessed with at one point.  Not to mention the furniture I've had since I was a baby!  This will definitely be a long process since furniture is pricy, but I've been looking into Pinterest a lot lately for some inspiration and am getting a lot of great ideas about what I want to do.  The good thing about this will be that I can take this furniture with me whenever I end up moving and that's one less thing I will have to worry about! So for today's post, I thought it would be fun to share a little bit of inspo that I'm loving and really looking to accomplish with my room transformation!   Disclaimer: All pictures are from Pinterest and do not belong to me. xoxo, Hannah

 Please tell me I'm not the only one who has become obsessed with Hyram this quarantine?  I originally found him from his TikTok but then started following his YouTube channel, and I have learned so  much about my skin and skin care in general.  I have oily, acne prone skin and my issue with my skin care lately is that I buy new products, they work great on my skin for awhile, and then they stop working.  It has been so frustrating and I never knew what to do and what ingredients worked best for my skin and skin type.  I also struggle with hormonal/cystic acne that turn into pigmentation scars (term learned from Hyram lol) so I've always been so self-conscious about them and never knew how to help them. Enter: Skin Care with Hyram!  I've learned that ingredients are so important, as well as acids, what products can and can't be mixed, and no fragrances!  Also, sunscreen which I never wore daily before now.  I love my new routine and although ...

We technically aren't in quarantine anymore, but we're still staying at home and I'm still working from home so that means I am spending a lot of money from online shopping!  I'm seriously addicted to Amazon and at this point whenever my favorite influencers post something they're loving I buy it immediately.  It's a problem. SO I thought it would be about time to do a current favorites post since I haven't done one in a LONG time and tell you what products and items out of the many I have purchased recently I'm obsessed with.  Hope you enjoy! (Moscow Mule from the past weekend; first cocktail not at home in months, outdoor, and socially distant!) Rae Wellness Pre + Probiotic //  Not to get too TMI, but I've always struggled with gut health.  Whether it be bloating, being regular, and just what I'm eating in general, my gut health has just not been where it should be.  I've seen these supplements at Target and I've always been a little c...

I've been pretty open about the fact that I struggle with an anxiety and panic disorder on here.  I obviously have good days and bad days, but I've had pretty great control over my anxiety for the past three-ish years.  Even when quarantine and everything started back in March, my family said they were surprised by how well I was handling it all.  However, over the past week, I've been incredibly anxious for five of those days.  I originally thought it was just hormones, but it continued and I wasn't starting to get really frustrated.   So, Monday night, I decided to fix it.  Instead of just wallowing and waiting for it to pass like I had been doing, I decided to make a conscious effort every day to help keep the anxiety at bay and to take note of what helps me when I feel anxious to help get my mind off of it.  So here is what I've been doing lately to help with my anxiety.  Of course, this is what helps me and everyone's anxiety is differen...

Today's post is one of my favorite posts to write: a content roundup!  I love watching people's YouTube videos and read people's blog posts about what they've been loving, and it's been so fun rating and keeping track of everything I am reading and watching.  So here is an update on what I've consumed the past few months, and hope you all enjoy! BOOKS "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid: 10/10 //  This is in my top 10 reads of the year so far.  It is so incredible and I was pretty much glued to my iPad throughout the book.  It's about a writer who is tasked with writing a memoir about a very prominent and private actress, Evelyn Hugo.  There was even a HUGE twist at the end of the book that I was not expecting at all, and it was just so so incredible.  Highly recommend! "In Five Years" by Rebecca Serle: 10/10 //  This is another top 5 read for the year!  This is about a girl who just got engaged and has her whole li...

As you all are reading this, it is my 23rd birthday!  This year has been absolutely crazy and definitely not what I expected to come from it, but I've loved everything about it and wouldn't change anything (except maybe the global pandemic part...).  I always love to reflect on the past year and see how I've changed.  Each year I feel like I'm growing more and more into myself and I genuinely really like who I'm becoming.  So here are just a few things that I've learned in the past year, and I can't wait to see what 23 will bring! MAN PLANS, GOD LAUGHS //  I've really learned the truth of this in the past year.  I did not see myself taking an unpaid internship after graduating from college.  But that internship opened so many doors for me.  It gave me incredible experience, taught me what I wanted in the future, introduced me to one of my best friends, and gives me great volunteering opportunities.  I also took my first adult job at the...

It's been (almost) two months of staying at home.  At the beginning of all of this, I was seeing some positives such as saving money now that I won't be going out with friends or even getting gas since I wouldn't be driving to and from work.  This is also my first time have an "adult" pay check, so having that much money in my bank account for the first time is very tempting as well.  I've started a budgeting spreadsheet to see exactly where my expenses are going each month and to hopefully prevent me from over spending.  This is somewhat working, but temptation is definitely still there for me!  Most of my purchases have been from the holy grail, Amazon, and I have loved everything that has come in so far!  I thought I would share what I've bought these past few months, both what has arrived and what hasn't yet in case you were looking for a little retail therapy, too! Amazon Basics Yoga Mat //  I bought this right at the beginning of the stay ...

Another month, another post about all of the content I've consumed in the past few weeks!  This month I've been in more of a Netflix/Hulu mood than reading mood, but this month has honestly been a winner in all categories! BOOKS The Testaments  by Margaret Atwood: 10/10 // I read The Handmaid's Tale  a few years ago before the TV show came out on Hulu.  I loved that book and was so excited when I heard there was a sequel!  It finally became available as an e-book through my library and I devoured  it.  It's told from 3 different women's perspectives 15 years after Offred's story ends.  It's incredibly interesting and genuinely could not put it down.  Highly recommend if you're a fan of the first book or the show on Hulu! Before We Were Strangers  by Renee Carlino: 8/10 // This was the first April read for The Readheads Book Club.  It's about 2 people who were in love in college, grew apart afterwards, and then found each o...

Working out is one of the many things keeping me sane right now!  I used to hate working out, and I'm personally someone who thrives better in a class environment.  I get motivation from the people around me and I love the personalization from the instructors so working out by myself has been a HUGE change for me!  I've been experimenting with multiple different formats and types of workout because if I do the same thing too often, I get burnt out and just want to stop altogether.  I know there are so  many companies and apps who are doing longer free trials and free online workouts.  I think it's so  amazing what companies are doing during this crazy time.  These are the ones I've personally been using, so just because one isn't listed doesn't mean I don't like it!  So, here is how I've been liking to workout these days. MADFIT (YOUTUBE/INSTAGRAM) //  MadFit has been my go to lately!  I've been following her for a long time b...

Hello everyone!  Today is the start of Week 4 of working from home, and as of today, Missouri has implemented an official stay at home order.  It's definitely a little scary and crazy out there, but I thought I would share some things that have been keeping me sane and helping me keep my mind off of all of these crazy things going on in the world right now. PODCASTS //  I've always loved podcasts, but I am loving them even more now!  I pretty much always have one on when I'm doing something around the house, taking a shower, even just sitting and playing on my iPad with one on!  I'm currently subscribed to The Morning Toast, Girls Gotta Eat, Potterless, My Favorite Murder, Gals on the Go, and Office Ladies.  I pretty much always have one on hand and ready to listen to, and it's nice to get some insight on other people's lives and just hear them talk about something other than the virus for an hour! CHILL HITS PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY //  This is my ...

Since my family and I are 100% practicing social distancing right now, we have been staying home and consuming so  much content.  I realized I never posted a February content consumption post, but that's mainly because I read a ton of books and only watched one TV show...so it really would have been pretty boring.  Although March is already almost over, I thought I would just combine the two now in case you all want to read/watch what I did these past two months while you're social distancing! BOOKS The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown: 9.5/10 //  All I can say about this book is wow .  My family and I got this book for my grandpa for Christmas a few years ago and he still says it's his favorite gift he has ever gotten.  I had been wanting to read it, but I kept putting it off since I don't know much about rowing and I wasn't sure if I would find it enjoyable.  I finally borrowed the book from my grandpa and wow am I glad I did!...

These are some very scary times.  As someone who suffers from an anxiety and panic disorder, all of the uncertainty right now is not great for my mental health.  This is why routines are so  important, especially when all four of my family members are home all day and working from home/doing online school. These times are already scary and weird, but on top of the weirdness, I started a new job on Monday!  I am now working in the Alumni and Donor Engagement office at one of the local universities and I was so excited to start.  Well, I went in for my first day on Monday, and during the day they told everyone to start working from home the next day, Tuesday.  So throughout the week I've been doing online trainings, meetings, and offering to help in whatever way that I can.  It's definitely difficult to learn the ins and outs of a new job while working from home, but we are all figuring this out together since this is a first for everyone. So, in the...