It's Not Much, But It's Honest Treat-Maxxing: The Things I Bought (and was gifted) in April
"I'M RICH!!!!!! in the sense that..."
This post contains some commissionable links, and normal links, too. <3 CONTENT WARNING!!!! THIS MONTH IS DECIDEDLY NOOOOOT LOW-BUY! WELCOME TAURUS SEASON (many gifts and ‘birthday money’ purchases below, don’t let that throw you off your own personal game)
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Clothing & Accessories
HIGH-NECKLINE workout crop tops - I was in need. The v-neck Align tops I wore once upon a time are not cutting it anymore. I don’t think it’s my age talking, but is it my age talking? The tops I just picked up are still cropped, technically, so I’m not some kind of modesty spokesperson, but I’m just loving the look and feel of higher necklines.
I continue to be FED by Nuuly this spring!!!! The TL;DR on Nuuly is that I think there are pros & cons and it’s worth a shot. Especially if you have an upcoming special event or are trying to play with color and texture in your wardrobe and don’t want to commit to purchasing ‘loud’, expensive, and/or out-of-your-comfort-zone items. I have been a Nuuly gal since 2020 and I have had an active subscription for about 20 of those months. Very easy to pause/”snooze” your account if you don’t have a lot going on that month! Here’s my regular-girl referral link if you want to try it.
JO JOHNSON X CHARLIE SOUTHERN MEET ME AT THE LAKE SHIRT!!!! Such a fun collaboration! So proud of you, Jo!!!
At the midnight hour (aka, a 4/30 purchase), my friend Kendra and I went in on additional pairs of the Sloane pants from A&F after bonding over how great the pairs we currently own are (we like what we like). The khaki color was on sale, and they’re neutral… enter our ~catholic school pants~ era.
I also last-minute ordered this onesie on clearance. I don’t know why. That was silly of me.
GIFT ALERT #1!!!! My friend
coordinated a surprise group birthday gift: a gift certificate to Dressed In Lala, which is my current favorite store! I know many who contributed to this gift are also paid readers of this newsletter. THANK YOU so much!!! I got a cute short + sweater set, and an oversized bubblegum pink smiley face sweater.I now have four items of clothing with smiley faces on them. For whatever reason, when I was young, my brother and I called smiley faces “hockey pucks”. There was a local water tower1 in the mid-90s that was painted a classic smiley face yellow, complete with smiley face. We would see it and holler out “HOCKEY PUCK!!!” — but I think it was my dad who would do the hollering before us? The only sensical reason for this I can think up in my head is that my dad had a hockey puck in his possession with a smiley face on it, which resulted in the classic2 overextension . Nothing else makes sense to me. All I know now is that I’m in my 30s, and the recent introduction of all these smiley faces into my wardrobe elicited a “HOCKEY PUCK!” response from both of my parents.
Food & Bev
My friend Karly and I went over to King’s River Falls one Saturday and it felt like a little taste of summer. On the way home, I got a James Brownie Funky Jackhammer at Andy’s for lunch and it was everything I remember and more. Similar to The Great Panda Express Rediscovery of April 2024, I hadn’t had one of these bad boys in years.
Earlier that morning, we went to Rabbit Hole NWA’s Lot Bagel pop-up. Sourdough bagel + pepperoncini cream cheese!!!!!!!! HELLO
GIFT ALERT #2!!!!! Raffy’s Candy out of New Lenox and Frankfort, IL sent me the sweetest package ever!!!!! Just a whole bunch of candy. So good. I’m bringing the chocolate to school for my students to try, and I’m keeping the sour chewy candy on deck for pool days later this summer. It meant so much to me that a local mom & pop shop that is so well-loved by my family took the time to send me something so special :’) My Chicagoland friends in the chat… PLEASE stop by the next time you’re in the southwest ‘burbs!
I was in Tulsa last weekend and popped by Trader Joe’s3. Restocked on some usuals (everything but the bagel seasoning, ginger turmeric tea, ghost pepper chips, etc.) and picked up some Springle Jangle! Highly recommend. Check out this breakdown (I love the Internet)
I’m just like, out here making tot bowls. Featuring groceries. Pick up some Great Value tots and prosper.
Exercise & Wellness
If you’ve been following along every month, you know that my wellness and exercise category spending is the source of a considerable amount of whining on my part, and could use a good audit. I love an audit, because frankly, it gives me an excuse to have a trial period where I do exactly the same thing and just… take notes and data. Okay, but for real, I know I don’t need multiple memberships and subscriptions. Walking is free. What’s not to love about walking? It’s soooooo good for you. But guess what else is good for me4? XFORMER CLASSES. PELOTON DATA. THE CLEANSING POWER OF HOT YOGA. I don’t know what I’m doing, there is no decision on “which one I’m keeping” but my mom’s birthday gift to me was a month at the Pilates/XFormer studio (GIFT ALERT #3?!?!!!!!) and I’m just ~exchanging~ what I would have spent on next month’s Nuuly on yoga classes instead, so I’m biding my time.
I’m not really seeking advice on which to keep up with, because not only do I believe this is a personal decision but I also think I could very well continue to cosplay as upper middle class in this area and there’s literally nothing you can do about it, though you’re always welcome to share your personal favorite ways to move!!!! I love feeling like I’m getting stronger. :~) My core strength is returning, nature is healing, etc.
GIFT ALERT #4!!!!! Pranamat reached out to send me their mat + pillow set in exchange for an honest review. My honest review is that I FREAKING LOVE IT. You can read more about it here. I do feel it’s important to note that there are plenty of cheaper options, which I can’t speak to, because I don’t own them. ;) An acupressure mat - any acupressure mat - may not be an essential addition to your life & should not take the place of any one treatment, and is simply another tool to add to your movement & mindfulness routine. I have been going to an acupuncturist on a semi-regular basis for the past three years, and spending time on the mat gives me a… taste/free trial version of the full-body heaviness and calm that I experience while getting acupuncture. I have a special offer code that am happy to share if you are in the market.
Beauty & Skincare
Sephora Sale - Amika Dream Routine, Saie Slip Tint, Kosas Concealer, Dae Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo, and quite a few little treats (samples, rewards, and birthday gift)! You can check out my current Sephora favs & saves here!
Got my hair refreshed — roots & trim!
GIFT ALERT #5!!!!! My bestie took me out to get a pedicure! Underrated birthday gift. I got a deep blue green because I’m “soooo crazy ahaaaa”
Overnight Blowout classic set, purchased with birthday money
Stationery, Books, and Hobbies
GIFT ALERT #6!!!!! I got a few lil’ Venmos from my pals on my birthday and I cashed in that very day on a pub day purchase of Funny Story by Emily Henry (and a Dirty SOP from Swig). Funny Story is my favorite EmHen so far!
GIFT ALERT #7!!!!! Baggu: Hold Everything // I’m usually not one to be Needing A Coffee Table Book, but I specifically requested this as a birthday gift because I have been riding for Baggu since I walked into the Gold Coast Urban Outfitters in July 2011 and bought a tiny affordable leather purse that is still in rotation and in great condition. Once I got my paws on my first vinyl bag? hello, buh bye, I’m SO at the mall.
Silly Little Treats, Not Otherwise Specified
Car Cleaning Gel because I’m a slob
EAST TEXAS MOM / FAYETTEVILLE SORORITY GIRL COSPLAY and I’ll do it again
Rice cooker — the $10 one I’ve had for over a decade finally bit the dust, so we replaced it. Love the little steamer on top :’)
GIFT ALERT #8!!!! MY CO-SLP AND FRIEND MORGAN GOT ME A GOOSE!!!!! A PORCH GOOSE!!! She will live at my office during the school year & I plan to get her some fun outfits. I love Midwest culture.
(Pre-Order) The Story So Far vinyl >:) TSSF has been one of my favorite bands for nearly fifteen years (? what is going on with TIME), and I have been eagerly anticipating this release since I first heard one of the singles last summer.
FUN FOR FREE
A short list of activities I did this month that were no- or low-spend:
Journaled on my couch with my friend Karly, listening to TTPD5
After-dark journaling, reading, and making/organizing Spotify playlists6
Long walks around the park
Went to the river, sunbathed on a rock
Played on the playgrounds at the Gathering Place in Tulsa with my bestie, her husband, and their almost-3yo! Swung, climbed, ran, played, slid, and a bunch of other past-tense action verbs. Stayed invasive species AND weather aware, thank you
VLOGGED! While it was fun, I’m glad to be free from the pressure to do it every day :)
The Wishlist
I am thinking about some Adidas Gazelles, but this may very well the trend speaking through me and nothing else. But I also feel like these will go with 75% of the clothes I own.
I’d also love to get the interior of my car detailed sometime this summer, so I’m squirreling away a bit of money for that. :)
I love the little juice glasses from Anthropologie. I’ve purchased them twice as gifts. They are so luxurious to me and not at all a need of mine. I just like looking at them. *heart hands emoji*
‘Did I Buy It?’ Check-In
Oura Ring - Short answer: no. I can’t afford it right now, because I have decided to buy other things. Someone needs to tell me no and I need to get more comfortable with it being me. Maybe if I wasn’t so good at little-treat-maxxing. We all have our limits. ✶⋆.˚
Thanks for reading! This has been a fun way to wrap up my purchases & links at the end of the month. This is not a line-by-line monthly budgeting dashboard. I believe in value-based spending. There will always be bills, essentials, gifts, and things I omit (both by choice and because I forgot about something, lol). To see what I spent my money on in March, check out last month’s post.
Catch ya next time. XO, CB
river forest? forest park? anyone!?
jk, this may be an original experience
Trader Joe’s come to Northwest Arkansas challenge!!!! Please don’t tell me they broke ground somewhere in Rogers or Lowell. That rumor has been going around since before I even moved here. I’ll believe it when I step foot inside and even then I will be skeptical
bacon
no I have not ranked them (but ICDIWABH is a clear favorite of mine)
truly one of my favorite activities, it’s so calming
I love my peloton subscription (app only) but I also started playing tennis with my husband again (I do not know how to play but it is not called perfecting tennis it’s called “playing” tennis so….) and I like cosplaying as an upper middle class lady who has a tennis time.
a decade being a TSSF girlie over here 🤘🏻❤️🔥 I also preordered the album and CANNOT wait. A new song dropped today?? I think?? All This Time 🥹 I’m also going to visit my best friend in denver this summer to see them at red rocks. I’m too excited not to share. I’m expecting an emo megachurch vibe that I will never recover from.