#ComeMillerHighWater

It has been one whole month since the biggest surprise of my life happened! A whirlwind of a month- enjoying this season and starting to plan has been so much fun. For those that missed it...I'm engaged!

We have set a date, booked our venue and photographer, and now we’re nailing down final colors (aka the terracotta-mixed-with-greenery-and-springy-pinks-wedding-of-my-dreams).

We have just short of a year before we say “I do”, but I wanted to write about our engagement 1.) so I never forget and 2.) of course I’m going to document the whole process!

Since I never formally introduced Damon to the blog (whoops- it’s been a minute), here is what you need to know.

He’s the most genuine guy you will meet. His sense of humor matches mine, but sometimes I’m funnier. He cares about his family and friends. He encourages me to do my best and he listens when I’m upset. He loves disc golf, his truck, his crocs, sushi and steak, a good t-shirt, and me. Most importantly, he’s kind and good and okay okay okay enough sap.

We don’t necessarily have an “official” anniversary date because the first time he asked me to be his girlfriend I said no. He was so nervous, it was cute. I poked too much at him about it so he never asked me “officially” again ha! We dated the entire summer of 2019 and he met my parents in August of that year, so we say the official date is somewhere around then. I put him through the ringer in the beginning, but that story is for a different day.

As cheeseball as it sounds, we both knew about 6 months in that this was it. It was gettin’ serious. Almost a year into dating we started talking about marriage and what that meant to each of us. I laid it all out there and made sure he knew some of my engagement *ahem* wants? Expectations? Whichever way you name it- I wanted his proposal to be a surprise, not in public, and there be pictures. He would probably say there were way more checklist items tossed his way. Regardless, he pulled it off so well.

Here's the tea:

February 24th was just your average Wednesday. I got home from work and he met me at my apartment. We planned dinner at his parents house which was nothing out of the ordinary. Damon usually works 2 weeks out of town and 2 weeks at home, so when he is home we make a “world tour” to each of our fam’s for visits. I decided not to change into my comfies (praise- this was a miracle!) and we left just a few minutes later.

We told his mom we would bring dessert and I had an entire baked pear recipe picked out and needed to stop at Aldi’s to get some ingredients. He never broke a sweat y’all! He was so patient and let me walk up and down every aisle in the store. Looking back, I know my lollygagging was eating him up inside!

We got back into his truck and we were on the way. He never acted weird or odd the entire time. We listened to music the whole way there and talked. I didn't suspect a thing.

Once we were at his parents house, he was a little slow getting out of the truck. I was SO hungry, I went ahead of him a little up the stairs to get inside. This is where things just lined up perfectly.

I’m never the first one inside when it’s the two of us, but that day I decided to open the door and walk in. His mom came out to greet us and give me a hug at the door- again, not out of the norm. She said “Hi Leianna!” and then I saw movement behind her...

I thought it was his dad surprising us (he was out of town for work), but I squinted and realized it was MY dad, mom, and bestie Sam. They had been cued to come out of the hallway by her greeting. It all hit me. I heard the Aldi’s bag hit the floor and I spun around to him on one knee.

COMPLETE shock! I can’t remember a single word he said in those first ten seconds. He finally said “so will you?” and I spit out a “yes!” and quickly snagged the ring out of the box like he was going to take it back!

My best friend Laura, who is also a photographer, popped out and captured the whole thing from start to finish. He pulled this off so well! They had all known for a couple of weeks and coordinated everything down to parking their cars at the park and carpooling over so nothing would tip me off.

Laura captured it all!

Looking back, I still cannot pinpoint a single moment where I would’ve picked up on something. I’m going to let you in on my crazy- I had set up two venue tours *before* we were engaged and he went right along with it. This is where I should’ve suspected something ha!

I knew we would be engaged within this year, but never thought it would happen when it did. I’m so grateful for him and the time he took to plan this out to make it special. I’m looking forward to these next 11 months and what they have in store for us!

COVID-19, you got me today

Let me preface by saying no, I do not have Coronavirus. I do have anger and resentment and sadness and frustration toward it. I have a big case of the sniffles right now from the bawl-fest that just went down in my car because of it. I have restlessness and anxiousness and some grief mixed in caused by it. I have an insane amount of gratitude for the courage and willingness of first responders and hospital and doctors office staff during this time. I realize how this virus has taken it's nasty toll on the majority of the world and even my immediate community. I'm grateful for my health and that I still have the opportunity to support myself (and Messi) through all of this.

But, I also realize I'm completely mourning the loss of the ending of this school year for my students.

Last week, our Governor made the call to close schools for two weeks to help prevent the further spread of you-know-who. I was pretty okay with that, I didn't get mad at the decision. I definitely knew it was for the best after seeing the last few weeks of news articles and reading COVID-19 scary death totals and survivor stories and symptoms. I didn't want any of my kiddos to get anything from anyone else or bring anything home to their families. I was excited to be given the option to still work from school and have time in my classroom to plan and get things together for the kids to complete at home. I was feeling pretty confident I could emotionally handle what was being thrown at me. I felt like I jumped right to "acceptance" in the stages of grief and was doing okay figuring out what the next two weeks would look like. 

The end of last week, you made me restless and ready to have my kids back.

This week, I wish I could have a sit down with you, Coronavirus. I'm wrecked. You really tried to beat me to a pulp today. You've stolen the ending of this school year from us, of second grade from my babies. My favorite part of the year where we review content and get ready to move to the next grade together in our classroom. We talk about becoming third graders and get excited for that big transition together in our classroom. We discuss what we will do over Spring break and we were even going to hatch chicks and learn about life cycles together in our classroom. I was fortunate enough to loop up with my class from last year. How lucky am I to witness almost two years of growth and laughs and jokes and hugs from the same group of kiddos? As a teacher, I'm not okay. I'm not okay I can't see my kids until May 15th face-to-face. I'm not okay I can't go over morning sticky's with my kids or walk them to resource or have whole group carpet time or let them buddy read or review text features or show me "something cool" they can do together in our classroom. I'm grieving of what the ending of this school year could have been for these kids together in our classroom. How we could have been together learning instead of at home separately through computers. I'm grateful for those devices and computers and the online learning resources, but I desperately want to be learning together in our classroom.

I'm not okay, COVID-19. You've made a lot of things feel unfair this last week. You've taken a lot from a slew of people these last few months. I know it was a safe call and the right thing to do to cancel school for the health of everyone, but I want to sock you in the face. I know a few parents that would join me in this fight. You make me angry that others won't stay home so we can get back to our "normal" sooner. I don't want to be angry or restless or sad or resentful or anxious.

I'm aware of how fortunate I am. Believe me, I've seen and read and watched of how much worse it could be. I'm grateful for my health. But right now, I'm sad. My students' parents are stressed for good reason and doing the best they can. I'm doing the best I can to provide what they need. I'm proud of the communication we've had and available resources for them to use for their kiddos at home. I love the photos I've gotten of my students learning at home and doing their best work. I know parents are figuring out how the next two months will look just like I am trying to. I know there are positives and I promise I am seeking and noting them.

But I desperately want to be the one teaching their kiddos together in our classroom.

The New New

Hey friends!!! It's been a minute, well 5 months worth of minutes. Lots of exciting things are going on, but the biggest is that I moved!

I had fully intended on renewing my lease at my prior shoebox, long story short, things started to happen throughout the last 6 months of my lease and I wasn't comfortable living there anymore. I miss that little space and how I made it, but I didn't realize exactly how uncomfortable I was with the environment until I moved into this new space. Y'all, it feels like the "big girl" apartment of my dreams and I'm so excited to share!! Always always follow your gut, friends.

My intention with this blog is to share fun finds and ideas. Like with my last shoebox, majority was found at Goodwill, Habitat, Hobby Lobby, and Amazon. I reused A LOT from shoebox 1.0, but it all feels so different to me in this space. I always link what I can!

Bathroom

I wanted to keep it clean in the bathroom because the space felt almost complete to me already. The counters and cabinets almost felt like decoration, is that weird? I reused my shower curtain and rugs, but I'm still on the lookout for a new big bathroom rug. 

Powder room sign here.

Bedroom

My bedroom is so comfy to me! My bed, side table, and TV stand were reused and my mama gave me the corner chair she thrifted. If y'all remember, I used that TV stand in the living room of my last apartment.

Bedding

Throw Blanket

Curtains

Living room

The living room is where I'm at the most when I'm home and I wanted it to be warm and full of pillows and throws. Essentially, the most perfect napping environment. I made all of my bigger purchases in this room, I *finally* got rid of the yellow couch!!! When I moved into my first apartment, I bought a $60 couch from a thrift store that already had been loved a lot and it was yellowed and h   e   a   v   y and worn. A new couch was the one thing I was the most ready for! 

Turns out, couches are freaking expensive. I was very naive. If you're thinking, did this girl really order a couch from Amazon? Heck yes I did sis and I fully have no regrets. I did my research and combed through review after review and waited for it to arrive. It came in two boxes that looked like this...yikes right?

All was well and when that piece was put together and I finally got to sit on it, it was awesome! I would 100% recommend it to anyone living in a shoebox with a pup. It's just big enough for two and naps like a queen. This coffee table is amazing! It opens up for storage and it was super affordable. My mom even got one when she saw mine!

Couch

Coffee Table

Rug

Couch Cover

Extras

I am all for a fun welcome mat, my last mat said Nice Underwear and it was a $10 score from Roses. After two years of tread, it was time for a new one.  Did you know funny welcome mats are freaking expensive too? What the heck. I was going to bite the bullet and chunk out the dough when I found this one.

It was divine intervention friends. I put it in my Amazon cart and sat with it contemplating my decision...y'all it dropped to $20!!! Literally sitting in my cart. I don't know if it will do the same for you, but I would try it. 

Mat

I had a dilemma with where to hang my keys and Messi's dog leash as well. I didn't want to nail a shelf to the wall, plus there really wasn't a place to put it. I found this scarf holder at Hobby Lobby and it was perfect! Perfectly on sale too.

This one has been with me since freshman year of college. My mom recovered an old thrifted bulletin board and it's been hanging where I have lived since.

As always, nothing is ever perfect. I shifted stuff out of all of these photos to get the "shot" I wanted and you can always find a pile of junk at my door that needs to be hauled off. The dog cage is an eye sore and doesn't blend in. You didn't see any pictures of my closet for a reason and every window has dog licks on it. Just keeping it real friends! We are 5 days deep into the new year and I'm feeling so inspired in this space. I hope 2020 brings the same for you!

Teeth Bonding Experience

Hey y’all!

I’m hopping on to share something new that happened this week. Have you heard of teeth bonding? Because I had no idea what it was until a fellow blogger mentioned it on her Insta stories a few months ago and I was immediately interested in the process!

Essentially, teeth bonding is used to fix a chip or broken tooth with tooth-colored resin. It can also be used to close or fill small gaps in teeth, like in my case. It’s painless and a very quick process. *However, I am in no way a dental professional. Ask your dentist about bonding for a more detailed definition!*

Why did I have it done? I had braces for a little over 3 years (#middleschool) and after I got them off, I was OCD about wearing my retainer nightly. You can ask anybody, I was a tad bit crazy about it. It’s been 11 years since being brace-less and I’ve not been so religious about wearing my retainer regularly as I once was. A tiny gap opened up between my two front teeth, which was not an issue appearance-wise at all. I thought it gave my teeth some character!

Before.

Sadly, within the last 6 months my labial frenulum (or lip skin connector thingy) has gotten caught in the gap numerous times and it is so painful! It scabbed one time (TMI) and it was awful. I was over being cautious when I ate or talked or opened my mouth too wide. I asked my dentist about bonding and he answered all of my questions. We set up an appointment right away. *Once again, reiterating that I am not a dental expert...if you can't tell.*

The entire process lasted about an hour, but I know that can differ depending on severity and where you are getting the bonding done in your mouth. I compiled all of my questions/answers I had below!

After.

Mother's Day Roundup

It's ya girl back with some Mother's Day goodies on a budget! I ordered my sweet Mama's gift this past weekend (no mom, it isn't going to be on this list) and I wanted to share some other options I debated on. If you're at a loss, there's still two weeks to shop! I'm not a mama, but I know this list is geared toward mine who would love anything on it. Does being a dog mom count?

1. I'm starting out with a personal favorite that I actually have in my closet and have been carrying for the last few weeks! The perfect straw bag that I'm sure is a dupe of something way more expensive. Pair the bag with this (2.) tassel keychain for a pop of color and you have the perfect gift to start your mama's summer off fashionably!
Total: under $30

3. These O-Venture keyrings are perfect to slip on your wrist and go! The O-Venture ones can get pricey (y'all know I speak frugal fluently), but I found the cutest ones on Etsy for $13 and they are personalized! Either way, it's practical and fun. Right now on O-Venture, use code hellOmay for 20% off! Tip: the spOrt keyrings are more on the inexpensive side and silicone!
Total: $13 - $50

4. My mama has this Apple watch band and it was an epic $15 prime find! It's leather and comes in 20 different colors.
Total: $15 and free shipping with Prime 

5. I've mentioned the Dot on the blog before, but it is great! It's around $50 and it is little but loud. Very easy to set up and it is so useful from asking random questions to playing all of your music.
Total: $50

6. These wool dryer balls are awesome...so awesome I've given them to my mom twice! I may have stolen her first set. If your mama is into a chemical-free home or looking at cleaner household products, these are a good first step to getting rid of dryer sheets. Gift these with a bottle of Lavendar essential oil!
Total: $8

7. Birchbox is a fun monthly subscription box full of different beauty products! I gifted this to my mom a couple of Christmases ago for a 3 month run. They have 1, 3, 6 month or yearly subscriptions and there is a sale right now for 3 months for $30.
Total: $15 - $150 (depending on subscription)

8. I saw this book at Francesca's last week and flipped through it and did all but cry. I am too sentimental to sit down and fill in all of the pages, it would literally take me years. I loved it and I know my mom would. Mom, if you're reading this, it's the thought that counts. Love you, mean it. I found at better price on Amazon here. Usually books like this are pretty kiddy, but this one walks through every stage right into adulthood. I will give you $5 if you fill it in without shedding a tear.
Total: $15

Hopefully these are some goodies that were helpful if you were stuck in a gift rut! Have you gifted any of these before?

Skincare 101

Hey friends!!

I'm on Spring Break and this week has been *just* what I needed. Full of the beach, two sweet pups, and friends...oh and so much food. I honestly didn't expect a staycation to be this good. My college bestie came down for the week and we just spent time in the sun and trying to places to grab a bite (and also Chick-Fil-A). Perks of a late Easter/Spring Break: 80 degree days in April!! Praise.

I'm hopping on to share a skincare routine that I've been loving lately and seems to be working for my angry forehead...ha! I've struggled with Comedonal acne since I was in my early teens and now that I'm almost in my mid-twenties (yikes), it's still lingering around. I go through spurts of completely clear skin and then they make an appearance like, "Hey girl, we're gonna hang a while!" I've been to the Dermatologist more times than I can count and I've used different retinoids for over ten years. My Derm prescribed me another retinoid to try this past January (Differin) and I tried both percentages not noticing a huge difference.

I did NOT want to go back again, mostly because my copay can feel like paying rent, but I felt like I could find something (or a mix of things) that may work as good or better. I'm here to tell you I think I nailed it! After tons and tons of research and reading reviews, I pulled the trigger on a few products that I've been using for a little over a month now and have improved the way my skin looks and feels.

These three goodies go on before any makeup in the morning. I still use the prescribed Adapalene (Differin) occasionally, definitely not everyday now. Good news, this percentage is a prescription, but they have one you can buy right off the shelf that I tried first! It goes hand-in-hand with the Differin moisturizer pictured above. This stuff is amazing for oil control and I always use a moisturizer with SPF in it, so it's perfect. Now the star of the show, the main reason I decided to switch up my routine. You see that little bottle with the green liquid inside? It is a game changer. It has decreased the size and amount of Comedones on my forehead tremendously, MORE than any prescription the Derm has given me in the last year. It's called Blume Meltdown and I highly recommend it if you are feeling stagnant with the condition of your skin. It has brought to the surface what I feel the Adapalene was just keeping at bay. It has a strong Rosemary, earthy smell but quickly goes away after it's applied.

First thing's first, I do not use all of the products pictured above every night! Each night I cleanse with the CeraVe equivalent face wash to get any makeup or dirt off of my skin and cleanse again with a Micellar water right out of the shower. Then I apply the Blume oil, Adapalene (if I'm feeling it), and Hydra Genius gel moisturizer to top it off. When I was in the middle of all of my skincare research, I read that a gel-based moisturizer is good for naturally oily skin. If I am having more breakouts than usual, I will do the Body Shop tea tree mask before I apply anything to my skin. This mask is great for oil control as well! I just hopped on board the Drying Lotion train during the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale and I was able to scoop it up for half off. I will say, I haven't been totally impressed with it. I toss in my sleep a lot and it comes off very easily after it dries. It's definitely something I apply when I know I'll be at home all day and can be sure I don't rub it off accidentally. There are a lot of great reviews on it, I think it's just user error on my part.

Before I switched to this whole new routine over a month ago, I began at-home dermaplaning. If you're not sure what that is, click the link and read all about it. Simply put, it's removing the dead skin off of your face so your products can work better and your skin is smoother. You do this with an eyebrow razor (pictured above). Yes, I said razor. No, it's not like the razors you use to shave your legs. No, your little baby peach fuzz does not grow back thicker or darker or longer. Yes, I have noticed a huge difference in the brightness of my skin tone and my skin in general.

I've talked about Native on here before, but it deserves another mention because it is so good for you and your skin. It's aluminum free and there are so many scents to choose from. I have been using this deodorant for over a year and I would recommend it to anyone. Best part, it's available at Target and Walmart now too!

The Banana Boat self tanning lotion is awesome and smells delicious. Ya girl stays pasty, summer or winter. This has helped me keep a little color on my legs so I don't blind myself in the sunshine. I linked the new formula, but I haven't tried it yet. I'll pick it up after this bottle is empty!

Phew, there it is folks. I hope this was somewhat helpful if you're on the market for some new skin goodies to try out! I would recommend any of this without hesitation. Let me know if you have tried any!

Current Favorites: February

Posting a favorites post each month has always been a goal, but honestly it's not a realistic one. However, coming off of the holidays and hitting the sales, I've scooped up some goodies to take me into a Current Favorites post for February! We'll see what happens in March.

On the the good stuff.

Electronics //

Echo Dot 3rd Generation

This was a gift from my brother and sister-in-law and it. is. awesome. Small, but might should be it's tagline. I was on the fence about an Alexa product just because I didn't know if I would use it or how much I would like it, but I have use it every day! I am one who constantly has to have noise in the background, so she is playing music continually. It's easy to set up and it is loud! The only negative I would say is that it is stationary and has to stay plugged up. It's not a problem in my little shoebox apartment, but if you have a bigger home and want some sound flowing, I would look into a more mobile Alexa product.

Apple Watch Leather Band

I can't say enough about this watch band! I have a silver faced Apple Watch Series 3 and I wanted it to have more of a "watch" look. I scooped this watch band up through Etsy and it is amazing! The only recommendation I have is to size down an inch. I measured my wrist and ordered a 7 inch, but I tighten the watch band to the last hole. Since it's adjustable, I could've easily gotten away with a 6 inch and had plenty of room.

Quip Electronic Toothbrush

The best. I could really leave it at that. I've had this toothbrush since the end of November of last year and I honestly don't know why I'm waiting until now to share it! I was skeptical because Instagram got me with this one. I saw an ad and it sucked me in. Ha! I'm glad it did because is really is the best. I scooped mine up at Target for $25 and then went online and registered it to get the refill packs. Every 3 months they send you a fresh brush head and a new battery for $5. You're in luck because I have a code for a free brush refill! Use: leianna897245366255 if you get one for yourself through the Quip website. The teal-y green color above is the one I have, but there are so many other colors to choose from. Let me know if you scoop one up too!

Pet //

Pug Life No-Pull Harness

Y'all know I have a rambunctious, loud, sassy, angel baby dog. I adopted Messi in December of 2016 and was able to successfully get a regular harness on her one time. After that one walk, she refused to let me put a harness on her. She is a major puller on walks. I don't like walking her with just a leash and her collar because she chokes herself and coughs the entire time. I knew there had to be a different type of harness out there for her! I found the one linked here for a while, but it wasn't sturdy or tight enough. It would loosen up when we walked and she got out of it a couple of times. BUT, I found the one in the picture above! Knock on wood, but so far it has been awesome! Very sturdy and tight enough, plus it has a handle on it for extra support. This one is amazing because it goes over the head and buckles under the tummy- NO going between the legs!! Praise.

Safety First Easy Install Gate

I know what you're thinking, a gate? Yes! About a year ago, I came home and Messi had completely ripped up a chunk of carpet in my bedroom in two places. I have no idea why, but she went for it. So, I started gating off my room and leaving her in the kitchen/living room for the day. Two weeks ago, I came home and she had done it in 3 places in my living room. I was furious at her and devastated that I was going to have to start leaving her in her crate for 8 hours of the day. I had a standard, wooden baby gate and it wasn't long or strong enough to keep her in the kitchen- I think she was an actual bulldozer in another life. I found this one and have been using it for a week and it is amazing! It was super easy to install and now she has my whole kitchen to stretch out in during the day while I'm gone. It's a pressure mount too, so no holes in the wall!

Ignore the lack of styling in this picture, but here she is!

Style //

Crush on You Lace Bralette *UPDATE*

I told y'all about this last month in January Favorites, but I hadn't ordered it yet. I ordered it at the beginning of this month and it is safe to say that I love it! It peaks out the top of sweaters so cutely. My only recommendation is to size down. I ordered the black one and I think I want the nude one (pictured above) next. It rides up and needs to be readjusted throughout the day, but I think a smaller size would help with that. It has adjustable straps and the cups can be taken out. Also there are TONS of codes out there to get 20% off this site! 

Beauty //

Hydra Genius Facial Lotion

This. stuff. is. crazy. awesome. I have super oily skin when there's the least bit of humidity in the air, but as soon as it gets cold- it is dry city. I was doing some research, as in Googling like crazy and read that a gel-based moisturizer is great for naturally oily skin. I found this one to test it out and I've been using it since December and it's time for a new one. It smells soooo good and a little goes a long way! This stuff is also packed with Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe as well. I pair it with Differin at night before bed. I found it super affordable on Amazon, too! It's linked above.

That's it for now, friends! Let me know if you try any of these goodies or have tried them! See y'all in the next round of Favorites.