Summer is fast approaching! Days are getting longer, skirts are getting shorter, and life is getting better! It's finally warm enough to break out the fun little sundresses, shorts, and sandals, and maybe even a few tropical inspired pieces for an upcoming beach vacay. 

Keep scrolling to check out the Top 10 pieces you all loved and purchased in the month of May. I know you all are going to look so adorable in them this summer!

10. Lemon Dress

9. Floral Flounce Skirt

A repeat offender from last month, this little skirt is a crowd favorite!

8. Polka Dot Dress

Another frequent flyer!

7. Jeweled Sandals

Found these in store buried under other shoes. It was like finding treasure!

6. Midi Sundress

Be hotter than those summer day in this bright red stunner!

5. Gingham Ruffle Skirt

The skirt I'm wearing in this photo is actually sold out, but I linked a really similar one from Amazon that you all seemed to love!

4. Panama Hat

Same thing with this hat that I bought from Walmart three summers ago! I've linked a similar one from Amazon that is so popular!

3. Name Necklace

These necklaces are all. the. rage. It took a while to ship (due to high demand), but it was so worth the wait! Would make a great gift idea as well.
You can get 15% off with code ABBY15!

2. Scalloped Cami

Two things I love: a classic cami and scallops. This little top is almost too good to be true!

1. Camo Camp Shorts

These were the most popular last month! So comfy and cute! I size up to a large for a roomier fit.

XOXO, 
Abby



*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

2. Portable Charger

Soooooo I'm clearly on my phone a lot. Between "The Gram," taking photos, editing photos, and *ahem* online shopping, ya girl can run down an iPhone battery FAST. This little portable charger, or rather external battery, has saved my butt on so many occasions. It takes a while to actually charge up the battery, but once it's charged, it will last you several days! Best money I've spent in a while. 

3. Curling Iron

My cousin taught my how to curl my hair in college, and my life was changed. How many times have I rocked 3rd day curls with half a can of dry shampoo in my hair? The limit does not exist. 

My mom bought me a Chi curling iron from TJ Maxx several years ago, and I still use it to this day. Not sure if mine is still on the market, but it rocks, and I'm sure the rest of their products are just as high quality. 

I also know that Hot Tools is a great brand to try as well. 

4. Self Tanner

I'm sort of new to the self tanner game. I've always loved being tan, and in years past, I've definitely spent too much time in the sun trying to achieve the perfect glow. In an effort to take better care of my skin and still look fierce, I've jumped on the fake bake band wagon this year, and I ain't getting off anytime soon!

Unfortunately, I have a history of sensitive skin. Throughout my life, the weirdest things have set my skin off (yet, I could roll around in a bed of Poison Ivy and nothing would happen...now tell me how that makes sense), and sadly, I've had some bad luck with certain self tanners.

I'm still trying out different brands, but so far this Skinerals Self Tanner has been working for both my skin and my budget. I use these mitts to apply the tanner, and I use these glow pads on my face!

5. Wristlet Wallet

Throwback to the OG Abbylish days!

My evolution of purse carrying is a bit strange. In high school, it wasn't cool to carry backpacks, so I carried ginormous purses that contained my whole life. Flash forward to college where EVERYBODY carried a backpack. I traded in my oversized purses for a Northface backpack (like I was using it for all my hiking trips on the weekends) and a small wallet on my key ring to hold my Student I.D., chapstick, and the few dollar bills I had to my name.

Ever since then, I've always kind of enjoyed having some sort of a wristlet option, so that I could carry all my essentials with me relatively easily on the days when I'm not wanting to carry a purse.

This Target wristlet has been my jam over the last few years. Now that I have all this adult crap a few more things to tote around on a daily basis, this wallet is a lifesaver. It has lots of organization and room for everything (including the Dr. Pepper chapstick that I'll never outgrow). The pattern I have is a few years old and no longer available, but they keep coming out with new patterns in the same style each season. And, best of all: it's under $20!



Do you have some everyday essentials that you just can't live without?
Let me know in the comments!

XOXO,
Abby




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*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

April is such a fun month because it finally starts to warm up and you can wear all those cute little Spring pieces that you actually bought when they hit stores in February. This April I stocked up on cute Spring trends like straw bags and earrings, a few classic staples (leopard print is a staple in my book), and some functional (yet cute, obvi) pieces for a weekend getaway to NYC.

Keep scrolling to see what you all bought the most of in April!



1. Pom Pom Clutch

2. Chelsea Rain Boots

3. Scalloped Sidewalk Skirt

4. Sueded Retro Sneakers

5. Lightweight Scarf

6. Floral Dress

7. White Slides

8. Leopard Print Cami

9. Bracelet Set

10. Floral Flounce Skirt

As always, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for taking the time to shop through my links! It's only when you take those few extra steps that I receive a small commission for the purchases you all make. And your support means the world to me! 

Until next month! Happy shopping!

XOXO, 

Abby

*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

Romper / Hat / Earrings / Similar Necklace / Jacket / Similar Purse

I remember being a kid and thinking that I couldn't wait to be a grown up. There were so many things that I'd be able to DO once I was an adult! While that's definitely true in some aspects, I find myself in my young adulthood now actually looking for things to give up doing. Funny how life works isn't it?

So if you are feeling frustrated or stuck in a rut, like you're spinning your wheels but not actually accomplishing anything, read on. You might find these five things that I've stopped doing are things you want to stop doing too! And if not, I hope that this post is just food for thought on how we can all simplify and bring peace to our lives.



5 Things I've Stopped Doing:

1. Making lists

Ok, seeing as this post is one big, glorified list, I obviously haven't given this up completely. I'm a pretty organized person, and I love a good list to keep me on task when I really need to get stuff done. It's very gratifying to scratch each item off of a to-do list, but that's honestly the reason why I quit making them.

Let me explain. After settling into the post-college work force and getting in the swing of 12 hour shifts, I started making to-do lists for each day that I was off of work (even weekends). I pretty much chalked the days I spent at the hospital up as a loss because really all I do on those days (if I don't get off early) is work, shower, eat, and sleep.

The off day to-do lists were helpful in reminding me of certain events like appointments I may have had, but eventually, each day turned into this overwhelming set of tasks (unload the dishwasher, do laundry, water the plants, walk the dogs, workout, go to the grocery store, vacuum, meal prep, etc.). Inevitably, I would never complete the whole list. I wouldn't get that feeling of gratification that comes with checking everything off, and instead, I would end up feeling frustrated and stressed.  It always seemed like there just weren't enough hours in the day! 

So, randomly one day, I just didn't make a list. I thought to myself, "I'll get done today what I have time to get done." And I've never really gone back. 

2. Baking in the sun

I know I've touched on this several times, so if you're a faithful reader of my blog posts, sorry to bore you. As I've said before, I am a sun goddess. There's just something so peaceful about laying in the sun and reading a good book. I love having a nice tan as much as the next girl, and honestly, I just like the feeling being in the sun gives me.

However, I've noticed in the past two years alone that my skin has changed a lot. I simply don't have my 18 year old skin anymore. I've noticed wrinkles and damage to my skin already. Rather than continue down that path and risk looking like a crinkled up piece of leather when I'm 60 (and/or getting skin cancer), I've started limiting my time in the sun. I still love pool days/lake days/beach days, but I try to be really diligent in applying sunscreen, and shading my face especially. 

3. Cleaning my house

Along with feeling like my lists were never getting completed, there came a point about 6 months ago when I was feeling like I spent every single one of my off days cleaning the house. I would try to get a lot done myself on those 2 days so that Greg and I wouldn't have to do it on the weekends, but then I found myself resenting Greg for all the household tasks that he seemingly wasn't doing. I still don't think the man has ever scrubbed a bathtub...but I digress.
The idea that just because I had 2 days off each week, I should spend them doing housewife stuff, really irritated me. Because even though I do get those days off, I still work a full time job (when I actually stay all day 😂), and I didn't think "keeping house" should solely be my responsibility.
My thought was, "if we're both working, then we split the housework." And since that really wasn't happening (not because Greg refused to do it. He is very helpful around the house...when asked), I hired someone.
And she is an angel.
Starting around last October, Dawn comes once a month and basically does all the things I hate doing: dusting, cleaning the bathrooms, mopping the floors, plus a few other things. To me, her fee is a small price to pay. Since she's been coming, I feel significantly less stressed on my off days. I still spot clean here and there (I don't like to live in our own filth, for crying out loud), but I enjoy my off days more now knowing that she will be coming at the end of the month to tackle some of the more time consuming projects.
And, most importantly, Greg and I don't argue anymore about housework. And for that right there, I'd pay Dawn double!

4. Strenuous Workouts

I've always lived a relatively active lifestyle. For much of my young adult life, I was a runner, and I've always enjoyed group fitness classes of all kinds. When Greg and I lived in Nashville, I started going to the same CrossFit gym that he was going to. I enjoyed working out at the same place he did and making "gym friends" together. I also really enjoyed the concept of CrossFit. I liked the fact that the workouts were short but very efficient.
Seemingly out of the blue, I started having some issues with my SI joints (sacroiliac joints, where your hips meet your low back), and unfortunately, CrossFit (and the culture of "just add a few more pounds to your bar") did not help.
When we moved back home in 2016, I started going to a CrossFit gym here. I practically shaved down my shin bone when I tripped doing a box jump, I was constantly ripping my hands open while trying to do pull ups, and I finally OBLITERATED my right SI joint attempting some heavy squats. I was diagnosed with a sprain, but I could hardly walk.
I found myself thinking, "Why on Earth am I doing this to my body?? This is not fun."
After months of recovery, I'm finally at a place again where I can do most of the workouts I love with little to no pain. I saw a physical therapist for a long time, I still have all sorts of issues with my SI joints/tailbone.
So, all of that to say that super strenuous workouts, especially ones where you're swinging really heavy weights around, simply are not worth it to me. They just don't seem to work for my body (or for many women's bodies if I'm being honest).  I like staying fit, healthy, and active, but I'll take an aerobics class with my 8 pound dumbbells over an aggressive workout any day.
I want my workouts to be challenging, but most importantly, I want them to be enjoyable.
If it ain't fun, I ain't doin' it.

5. Saying "Yes" to things that I don't want to do

We live in a culture where being busy is sometimes glorified and even viewed as a sign of success. I love to go, do, and see as much as the next person, but I've learned that I tend to quickly say yes to "just one more thing" and then end up feeling overwhelmed and dreading the things I agreed to.
Now how does that make sense?
Since I've realized this about myself, I try to be really intentional about the things I agree to do. And, I try not to overfill my days/weeks with obligations even if they're "good" things that I would enjoy.
 For example, if I agree to be a greeter and set up at Church on Sunday morning, I probably won't agree to sub an exercise class that same afternoon. It may seem silly, and believe me, sometimes I start thinking to myself, "I've got plenty of time. I could do both," or, "I could probably squeeze that in." But, my track record shows that those thoughts usually lead to frustration and resentment. And what's the use of agreeing to something if by the time you do it, you do so begrudgingly? I'd rather commit to one thing and be all in than complete several tasks half heartedly.





As I'm growing older, I'm slowly starting to realize that less truly is more sometimes, and busy is definitely not always better.
Have you given up anything (good or bad) in your adulthood? Could you benefit from quitting some of the same things that I've stopped doing? Let me know in the comments below!

XOXO,

Abby

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*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

I love seeing the pieces that you all love and purchase each month! It helps me get to know each and every one of you just a little bit more and gives me a better understanding of what appeals to you: my faithful followers!

So, without further ado, here are YOUR top 10 favorites from the month of March!

1. Palm Leaf Earrings