I have read a few Taylor Jenkins Reid books (Malibu Rising is my favorite of hers that I have read so far. Go comment on my instagram if there is another one of hers that I need to read!). “Daisy Jones and the Six” was really good and in interview format almost like reading a movie script. I will say I liked but didn’t love. What saved it for me was this really gorgeous monologue from Karen about being a mother (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers!) and I hope they put that monologue in the show! It was so pertinent and beautifully said. The series comes out in March and this would make a perfect pick for book club & do a viewing party together!

Homegoing is absolutely without a doubt one of the best written novels I have read in a long time. The writing is absolutely poetic and stunning to read and the storytelling and weaving is mesmerizing. I will say, because I read on my kindle I missed the family tree in the front so I would get lost sometimes reading through it so just note that! It would have helped me a lot. Homegoing gives beautiful insight to African / African American / Black experiences through history in a way that was compelling and in a lot of ways heartbreaking. It gave me such incredible perspective into history in a way that was emotional and lovely to read. Would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a quality novel and to broaden their understanding of the Black experience through history. A must read in my opinion!

This is probably my favorite book of the year so far. I literally couldnt put it down. I was reading it until the wee hours of the morning after everyone went to bed on a girl’s trip. It is a perfect amount of drama, romance, and fantasy. The pace of the book is also amazing – you never feel like you’re dragging along to get to the meat of the story. Don’t tell anyone BUT I actually think I might like this better than I like A Court of Thorns and Roses! I added the novella sequel, Of the Dark Moon, to my TBR for February! If you are looking to start fantasy romances or you are already a fan of fantasy romance this is for you! It is also currently free on Kindle Unlimited and you know my Kindle changed my life!

Meghan Quinn is my go to romance author. I fell in love with her writing with Not So Meet Cute (the first book in this series) and I loved her play on Princess Diaries with spice, Royally Not Ready. Having read the first two books in this series I was so excited for this best friends to lovers romance from MQ. Highly recommend this series if you are looking to spice up your life! You don’t have to start at Not So Meet Cute but it will definitely set the scene for the rest of the series. It is also free on Kindle Unlimited – and you guys know that I LOVE my kindle!

I picked this book to be our first Big Sis Book Club pick of the year. It is a great book to start off your year reflecting on ways you may self sabotage and get real life examples of how to fix it. I actually pulled some of my favorite quotes and made them into journal prompts for you as well to work through. This book is a great place to start your self love and healing journey. It is written so beautifully and there are so many compelling quotes in the book as well.

Okay let me start by saying I hate giving anything a bad review because I know how much love and energy went into something especially a book. This is another fantasy romance that came suggested to me from Booktok. For me this one dove into the plot too quickly and didn’t give me enough of an emotional investment up front to care deeply once we got into the action. I knew I was supposed to feel more invested in the character than I did when the drama started. I had read this earlier in the month and when I went to do this round up I couldn’t remember a thing about it which isn’t a good sign. I want to try another one of her books because people really seem to love them but this one wasn’t it for me personally.

I was full a teen romance girlie growing up. I loveddddd a beach read teen romance (without the spice of course at that time!). This really reminded me of that but with spice. I enjoyed this one, I thought it was well written and the plot was good. For me I just couldnt get past the fact that they were both like 18 years old (in the book they are second semester seniors in high school) and it just made me feel weird. Like i said, not a bad book just couldnt get past the age thing!

Go comment on my latest Instagram or TikTok post what books you think I should add to my list next!

The post What I Read in January: Romance, Fantasy, and Sometimes Both appeared first on Alex Schin.

For those of you looking for a classic color combo for Valentine’s there are SO many good pink and red dresses out there! I personally am partial to pink (can you tell by my selection?).

1. If you are looking for a classic sexy silhouette that also gives some 70’s vibes and something you will likely wear time and time again, this Silk Halter Dress is for you! This Valentine’s dress is perfect for dinner adn drinks and you can definitely use it for your next Bachelorette party too!
2. For my glitter girls we have this amazing sequin wrap dress. The one shown above is for my curvy girls but if you are a straight size gal here is another option for you!
3. For a dress you can wear to the office but still feel sexy enough for a date, I love this collared option with a ruched skirt. It is flattering but colorful and you can take it from day to night with some fun accessories (try these bow earrings for a girly night look!)
4. This pleated dress has a silhouette that is flattering on so many body types and is a dress that you can wear time and time again. The classic cut and color will make this a wardrobe staple you’ll be reaching for time and time again!
5. This red and pink wrap dress is classic Valentines Day vibes. You will look like a whole bowl of Valentines M&Ms wearing this! It comes in both straight and curve sizes!
6. Another Red & Pink number that scream valentines day is this classic silhouette dress with red leopard print that gives classic glam vibes. Just imagine it with your hair in a low bun & a fabulous pair of earrings.
7. If red and pink isnt your vibe and you want something a little different try this groovy pink and blue print dress with a ruched skirt. The print is vibrant and fun for a fun little date night where you can stand out in a crowd!
8. If you want something a little more subtle this baby pink babydoll dress is for you. Not too electric pink but still girly and festive.
9. Now for those of you still looking for you lobster a la Friends, this purpley-pink & orange lobster print dress is equal parts unique, fun, and festive.

10. If you want a subtle sexy look try this trendy cut out dress in a classic black satin. This is a dress you’ll get a ton of use out!

11. If you want a sexy silhouette and fabric go for this lace dress with little peekaboos!

12. This black wrap dress is one of the most flattering dresses I have ever worn. It is a staple for any closet and a cute little flirty look!

13. I am OBSESSED with the silhouette of this square neck dress and the velvet?! LOVE. Simple, classic, and a little unique with the fabric choice.

14. If you are looking for sexy sexy sexy vibes THIS DRESS IS HOT. Its beautiful, flattering, covers a little belly if you are worried about that and shows leg for days! I love it so much and it is PERFECT for Valentine’s Day!

15. Okay this black dress is SO beautiful and has a great little kind of corseting around the stomach. This maxi dress is flowy and flattering and beautiful. The dress has an open back as well for a sexy little surprise. Perfect for the cold weather too with a pair of knee high black boots!

16. If you want a casual dress that you’ll keep in your closet for years to come try this one! Even if youre feeling bloated but you have to dress up this is it!

The post 16 Classic LBD’s and Colorful Dresses For Valentine’s Day appeared first on Alex Schin.

Here are some of the quotes and journal prompts I worked through while reading through this book!

The post 5 Journal Prompts from The Mountain Is You appeared first on Alex Schin.

Lets kick off Big Sis Book Club in January!

Our first Big Sis Book Club Pick of the Year is The Mountain is You. I have been seeing this book every where on the internet and decided to pick it up. And I think this is a perfect book to start the year with. I personally have been reading it on my Kindle in the infrared sauna and after meditating or journaling in the morning.

The Mountain is You is really a book about self sabotage and beginning to heal the inner self. It gives a lot of practical advice and examples of how to adjust your habits and thought processes around self sabotaging behaviors. 

There are SO many good quotes from the book (check my favorites out here!) but check out my review and the journal prompts I worked through while reading.

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Never did I ever think that I would be a digital book or Kindle girlie. I have been a reader since childhood – constantly reading, asking to go buy more books. I even used to spend recess inside helping to put away the books for the librarians (and probably giving me a break from the chaos of the playground). The running joke was always that I never learned how to play. I was never really into games or activities. I was, and still am, happiest with my face buried in a book.

But I found myself not reading much after I graduated from college. I was hesitant to spend money on books that I knew I would tear through quickly and be on to the next. I didn’t want to have mountains of books to move every time we moved. And even on a day to day basis, I also couldn’t fit my books in the purses I like to carry or I wasnt bringing it anywhere with my because of it’s size.I had purchased a kindle once before, had tried just using the app on my phone and I wasn’t really into it. I missed having a real book.

But this year I decided I really wanted to get back into reading again. So I decided on an Amazon Prime day when the price was marked down to buy a Kindle once again and give it a shot. Usually, I carry a small bag day to day – and the kindle fit right into my belt bag so I take it with me everywhere!

Last year, starting in May, I read 37 books. FAR more books than I had read in the last 5 years. Maybe as many books as I had read in the last 5 years. And I didn’t even buy that many! I used a few different places to get my books from. 

The Libby App:

The Libby App connects to your local library card and helps you to source the books that you want to read in digital format from your local library – which for me is a win win! I usually put in about 3-5 books at a time that I want to check out onto my Kindle and when they are available you get a little notification its ready! Then you have 21 days to finish them before you have to “return” them to the library. 

Kindle Unlimited:

I fully committed to being a romance novel girlie this year after reading A Court of Thorns and Roses (which I think I have forced everyone in my life to read at this point). It has been a fun and light hearted escape for me. When I saw all of the #booktok girlies talking about Kindle Unlimited (under $10 a month to check out up to 20 books at a time!) and all of their favorite romance novels on there I decided to give it a try. For me, I read 2-3 books a month from here, sometimes more so the cost balances out for me! 

This year my reading goal on Goodreads is to read 75 books in a year. January is almost over and I am already 7.5 books in! If you want any of my book recommendations, here is my book list on my Amazon storefront. 

I really cannot recommend – if you are a reader or want to get back into reading again checking out a kindle! It pays for itself over time and you will love reading again!

The post I love my Kindle: how using an e-reader changed my reading habits for the better appeared first on Alex Schin.

Anyone else dream of eating baguettes and strolling the streets of Paris? Without the consequences for your skin? SAME. Of course I was influenced by TikTok to try out a few skincare products from frenchpharmacy.com to make sure I was getting the exact right products. Want to see what I picked? Keep scrolling!

Biafine Emulsion

I snagged the Biafine for a few reasons! Biafine is a thick cream for dry skin, superficial wounds like burns & cuts to help them heal well, and stretch marks! It is a gret cream for any topical irritation you might have or want to heal. Right now I am using it on my stretch marks, areas like my elbows that get really dry, and on any fussy spots on my skin that are irritated & need more moisture. I actually use it as a moisturizer over top of the next product A313 to make sure my skin is getting enough moisture with the strength of the vitamin A! I got this specific formula from frenchpharmacy.com you can order their SPF from Amazon! They also have the body lotion!

A313 Vitamin A Cream

If you are like me and retinol bothered your skin but you want to keep your skin tight and right – this is the answer. This is a high concentration vitamin A cream that treats hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and acne similarly to a retinol. I put a pea size on my finger and distribute across my face (1/3 on my cheeks & forehead each and then rub it in). So far (after 3 uses) no irritation on my sensitive skin! This one you want ot make sure you are getting from a certified vendor so I got mine from frenchpharmacy.com

La Roche Posay Vitamin C serum

I have been a HUGE fan of La Roche Posay for years. Their products are super gentle and you are able to find them in American distributors as well. Some Vitamin C serums really bothered my skin but because LRP’s products have historically reacted well with my skin I knew this would be no exception. It is a really reasonable price and I am loving it! You can pick it up at your local Target!

Please note I am not a doctor nor a dermatologist. The above are what I have noticed as a result of utilizing these products & some online research on the effects of the product. Please consult a doctor for any formal skincare advice.

The post French Girl Chic: Trying French Skincare Products for Effortless Beauty appeared first on Alex Schin.

Previously I had used apple cider vinegar to get rid of build up on my scalp but I hated just dumping it on my hair. The ACV scent really stuck to my hair and as a very scent-sensitive person I avoided it. But I needed something to help fast so I ordered this continuous spray bottle online and filled it with 50% water and 50% apple cider vinegar. I keep it in my shower and use it when my hair is feeling oily.

I spray the apple cider vinegar directly on the root and scalp either in the shower or a few minutes before I shower to let it work its magic!

The post The One Step, One Ingredient Solution for a Greasy Scalp appeared first on Alex Schin.

When our friends asked if we wanted to do a trip this summer we were so excited to show them around and take them to some of our favorites and try a few new ones. Here was our agenda for the week & our recommendations!

Lodging

As far as where to stay, I would say AirBnBs are absolutely the way to go. We stayed at the Thornsberry House this time. It is an 8 minute drive to the Sonoma Square & can host up to 6 people – 2 in the main house and 4 in the guest house studio. It was the first time we had a pool when we stayed there and during the warm months its a game changer! We spent so much time in the pool and it was so nice. We took a walk every morning to Sonoma’s Best market which was a great way to get the day started with a little bit of movement and some great lattes or food to go if we were going to be vineyard hopping that day (get the Golden Bear latte – it tastes like teddy grahams!).

Must Visit Wineries

The amazing thing about Sonoma is that you could spend an entire day exploring just 1 square mile. Every time you go back can be a different trip which is why you can go back again and again. My parents have shared a few with us over time that we return to & we have bookmarked a few favorites of our own to share but we love going to new ones as well!

• Hess Collection – Hess is one of the stops passed onto us from my parents. The first time we went there I thought it looked like High Garden from GOT. They now have a few types of tours ranging from a standard tasting to an art tour (their collections are STUNNING) but this time we did an ATV tour with Frankie (she’s the absolute best – request her!). This is on Mount Veeder near Sonoma so a quick drive! They have incredible wines with great price points. Scott and I belong to their wine club and cannot recommend them enough and will always go back!

• Reverie II – this is the other club that we belong to and Scott’s favorite stop. They have a super laid back attitude and make incredible wines. They are north of Sonoma towards the Healdsburg area but we always make time to go! Highly recommend

• Bartholomew Estate – Not only is Bart Park a beautiful public park full of hiking trails & picnic areas (one of the few in Sonoma you can bring your dogs to!) but they also make amazing organic wines. I think that their 2018 Garden Block Zinfandel was one of my top 3 wines I taste all week so I may or may not have ordered 6 bottles (the plan is to make this recipe from HBH and drink it while watching Sunday night football – I know I have a vision for everything but this wine requires such planning to drink). Also definitely do your tasting in the Oak Knoll outside – it is so beautiful and relaxing. A totally different tasting experience than I have ever done. A new must stop for us! Plus it was only a few minute drive from our AirBnB.

• J Winery – If you are a sucker for sparkling wines, this is the best stop! North of Sonoma in Healdsburg They have full tastings of bubbles or varietal tastings for those of us who don’t love champagnes & sparklings. They also make the most incredible cheese tastings that are unique and perfectly suited for the wine. Highly recommend!

• Gundlach Bundschu – or GunBun as their friends call them is the perfect place for a laid back tasting in Sonoma. Their wines are in a great price point and they have all different kinds of tasting experiences for you and your group. They also have a massive property with beautiful views. Highly recommend!

Where to eat

• Glen Ellen Star – run do not walk. Make 2 reservations because you will want to go back. The duck pasta is to die for and we have the best cooked steak I may have ever had. We cannot wait to go back every time we go to Sonoma forever.
• Cafe Citti – red wine and Italian go hand in hand and this is one of our favorites. So great for takeaway or have it there. It is one of my parents favorites and we go almost every time we are there! It is perfect for a casual dinner. This is in the Dry Creek area just north of Sonoma square – another one of our favorite areas!

Did I miss any of your favorite stops in Sonoma? Where should we go next?

The post A Perfect Trip to Wine Country: Sonoma Travel Guide appeared first on Alex Schin.

Here were the rules: mostly that there were no rules. I just picked mascaras I had heard good things about or from reputable brands. I would wear one on one eye of lashes and one on the other and the public would vote on my Instagram. I did however realize that my lashes on my right eye were better than the lashes on my left eye so a few days into the competition comparison photos were all of the mascaras on my right eye.

Evaluation of each below!

Longest Overall Win Streak (14 days) / Overall Winner: Maybelline Sky High mascara

Price: $11

Where to buy: Drugstores, Target, Ulta

Strengths: Length, volume, minimal clumping, no flaking, comb brush. This one went viral on TikTok for a reason. I had several of you purchase this and message me immediately telling me how incredible it is!

Runner Up: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara

Price: $23, but can be found in multipacks and often on sale

Where to buy: Ulta, Sephora, QVC (Mutlipack), Tarte.com

Highlights: Did beat Sky High in a one on one match up. Great lengthening & volume, can buy multipacks to lower the cost to drugstore level, best of the overall premiere brands. Minimal flaking.

Runner Up: Urban Decay Perversion mascara

Price: $25

Where to buy: Ulta, Sephora

Highlights: If you like a classic spoolie brush this is a great one. Spoolies give you a softer mascara look (combs give you really defined lengthen lashes). This was my go to for years! Beat Lights, Camera, Lashes in a head to head.

Best of the Clean Beauty Mascaras: Tarte Surfer Curl mascara

To be fair we didnt try that many clean mascaras BUT I really do love this formula!

Price: $23, but can often be found in multipacks or on sale

Where to buy: Sephora, QVC (multipack), Tarte.com

Highlights: lifts & curls lashes, organic / clean beauty product, often can be found in multipacks lowering the cost significantly.

Best Drugstore Clean Mascara: Honest Beauty Mascara

Price: $17

Where to buy: Target, Honest Beauty, Ulta, Amazon

Highlights: It is a little toughh to apply as the bristles on the applicator are realllllly short but the payoff is good. It also comes with a built in primer! It is a little on the high price end of drugstore mascaras, if you are really committed to Jessica Alba (this is her brand) it is worth a shot!

One Mascara I Really Liked but didn’t win: Benefit BadGal Bang! mascara

Price: $26

Where to Buy: Sephora, Ulta

Highlights: I saw another girl doing a similar mascara comparison but just by what her favorites were (no public voting) and this was her overall favorite. A little on the higher side than I like to pay for mascara especially when the other ones are so good and you can get them in such cost effective ways BUT the payoff with this one is quick and long lasting. Pigment is super black and bold.

My least favorite mascara: NYX Worth the Hype mascara

Price: $8

Where to buy: Ulta, Drugstores

Highlights: Truly there were none…. I know this is an $8 mascara but I really think this is a wild misnomer. This product did absolutely NOTHING for your lashes until like the 3rd coat. Even then it was flakey. All in all while I do think that NYX has some great products this one is not worth the hype.

Biggest Loser: Tarte Lash Paint mascara

Pice: $23

Where to buy: Ulta, Sephora

Highlights: Honestly, this one didnt get a single vote from anyone against a drugstore mascara. This honestly might be the least effective mascara I have ever tried. I was honestly shocked because generally I LOVE all of Tarte’s mascara but this one aint it! Save your money!

The post Mascara 2021 Recap: The good, the bad, and the flaky appeared first on Alex Schin.

This post will be constantly updated with my favorite tools and books as I read them so bookmark this page!

Books

Rich as F*ck by Amanda Frances

I love Amanda and her no BS attitude. She is direct and inspirational and helps you overcome so many things with her journal prompts. She is know for her course the money mentality makeover but if you are looking for a quick way to help shift your attitude towards money and step into abundance this is it!

Atomic Habits by James Clear

If there is one book I could tell you is a must read in your lifetime it is this book. I seriously do not think that there is one book that has made more of an impact in my life than Atomic Habits. James Clear spent years and years studying habits and efficiency. I read and re-read this book year after year to help keep me on track and every time I discover something new. Do not miss out on this one and buy a copy for your friends who are into this kind of thing.

Tools

5 Minute Journal

If you are new to journaling or don’t know where to start this is the perfect thing for you. The 5 Minute Journal gives you the same format every day but has different quotes and weekly challenges for you at the top. It helps make the practice of gratitude and journaling mindless and un-intimidating. I really think this is a must have and I will be repurchasing! I use this every morning as a part of my morning routine!

A Cute Blank Journal

Science has proven having cute things makes you want to use them more. Don’t quote me on that but like I feel like that has to be true. So get yourself a cute journal that will look cute on your nightstand so that you wont put it away and forget about it. I love going through the journal section at Target or Homegoods / TJ Maxx. Try out my best tips for new journalers here!

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