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