March Favorites: 10 Things I Loved + Your Favorites Too!

We are now officially three months into 2026, and that means it's time for another favorite things post. At the end of each month, I share the things that made my life a little bit better as well as take a look at the things I shared that were the most popular according to you guys. It's always interesting to see how things shake out from month to month; I literally never know what y'all are going to like!

I'd like to say that March was a breath of fresh air compared to January and February, but I really can't. I don't know what it is about this school year, but it has been so much more frustrating than years past, especially in the months since Christmas break. Some other lows include me breaking my favorite travel coffee mug, being late to work more than I have been all school year, reading way less than I wanted to, and spending the better part of last week fighting a major allergy attack.

Thankfully, the month seemed to move quicker than the previous two, and I found a lot more to be positive about. Maybe that's because not only was I actively trying to find the positive but I was also trying to create my own. Focusing on the good instead of dwelling on the negative is so much better for my mental health. So here are some of the things that went well for me this past month.

I taught one of my favorite skills (irony) and one of my favorite stories (The Cask of Amontillado) this month, and my students really enjoyed it. They also did really well with it. In that same vein, we started out poetry unit, which is my favorite unit of the entire year. Of course, poetry does tend to be the students' least favorite, especially when I ask them to write me something, but so far I think they've been okay with it.

I feel like we've done a little bit more this month. My husband and I have had two date nights, which is highly unusual. We've gone for bobas and to the movies. Alexis and I tried a Vietnamese restaurant, and we went to our first festival of the season.

Now for my top ten favorite products from the month and the ten most popular things I shared as determined by you.

My Favorites

Mary Jane Flats -- I'm combining a few of the same style shoes into one entry since these are basically the only style of shoes I've been wearing lately. Of course with the weather warming back up, I've pulled out my woven brown mary janes that I wore so much last year; they're still in really good shape, and I'm already getting a lot of wear out of them (similar here). I've recently added a pair of blue and green mary janes with a unique buckle design that I love. I've been wearing the green pair a lot lately; they go with so many things! And I've also gotten a pair of yellow mary jane espadrilles that I think add a fun, casual vibe to an outfit.

Star Cardigan -- This is my number one purchase of this month. I am in so love with this cardigan. Prepare for it to become my whole personality. I've worn it twice since getting it, and I'm so incredibly sad that our weather has warmed up so quickly. This cardigan is soft and cozy, and it's just so interesting, and I don't know how, but it goes with everything. It comes in a few other colors, so check it out anyway even if yellow's not your fave.

Slip Shorts -- I'll be honest. This is one of those purchases I never thought I'd need. Then I bought a skirt that is so thin it's practically see through, and needs must. That said, I'm kicking myself for sleeping on these slip shorts for so long. I am absolutely loving having this extra layer under pretty much all my skirts. They hold their shape all day, don't roll down or bunch up in the legs, and do a good job of smoothing everything out.

Seamless Undies -- I bought these on sale from Old Navy, my first time ever buying underwear from them, and I have been so happy with these. First of all, they are super soft. Second, they stay where they're supposed to -- no rolling down, etc. I will definitely be buying more.

Gold Sparkles Outfit -- This is my favorite outfit of the month, and it came together in such a happy accident. I definitely played up the gold accents in the blouse by pairing it with a sparkly headband and pair or ballet flats. This outfit felt very much like me, and I will absolutely be wearing it again.

Colorful Stripes Outfit -- This outfit is a close second for favorite of the month. It's just so colorful and fun. I love the mix of horizontal and vertical stripes. This skirt has become such a versatile piece in my closet, but I think this is probably the best way I've worn it to date. 

Colorful Chain Necklace -- This necklace is so much fun. I've been wearing it a lot lately, and I love the little bit of whimsy that it adds to an outfit. The chain is acrylic and has gold accents, but I've been mixing it in with a bunch of different things.

Sleep Mask -- I've been needing a sleep mask for awhile, and I just never bit the bullet. My husband actually found this one, and I decided to give it a try. I absolutely love it, even more than my old worn out silk one. The mask itself is padded, but the part that goes over the eyes is hollow so there's no pressure on your eyes. The band is elastic, but it's also adjustable. It completely blocks out the light and stays on my head all night. I can't recommend this mask enough!

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone -- I didn't read much new in March, but of the titles I did read, this one by Benjamin Stevenson sucked me right in. I literally had to force myself to stop reading so I could get some sleep. I liked that this was a bit tongue-in-cheek, and the twist of the serial killer reunion crasher was pretty brilliant. If you like true crime, you should give this one a try.

Jelly Hole: Roll & Eat Pals -- I am so addicted to this game, y'all. It might actually be becoming a problem. There's no real skill to it, but it's pretty good at relieving the stress of the day.

Your Faves

Coffee Club Graphic Tee -- This is such a fun graphic tee that I can't believe is still available. I wear this all the time. It's very soft and easy to mix and match into my wardrobe.

Tropical Print Skirt -- This skirt is so much fun! The colors are perfect for the warmer months. It's a nice knee length and has perfect twirl ability.

Star Cardigan -- Great minds think alike, I see. This cardigan really is worth the price, y'all.

Dark Floral Skirt -- This is the same skirt that's in the golden sparkles outfit above. I do feel like I need to issue a bit of a warning for this one. On the product page, the skirt looks purple. It also looks kinda purple in my picture, but you're just going to have to trust me when I say that in person, it's green.

Pink Long-Sleeve Dress -- This is a really pretty dress that's great for the winter-to-spring transition. It's currently on clearance for less than $20. I got it in the medium, and it's pretty loose, but I don't think I would have liked it in the small. It's pretty thin, but the skirt is fully lined.

Green Floral Blouse -- This pretty printed blouse is selling out in this print. This is one of my favorite styles of tops to wear. I got it in a medium to be a bit looser. Also, they tend to shrink.

Colorful Flower-Leopard Print Cardigan -- How fun is this cardigan?! I love how whimsical it is. And I can't explain it, but it goes with pretty much everything. It's also very soft.

Green Flower Cardigan -- This one isn't pictured in the graphic because the product page doesn't have a flat lay, so I'm resharing my St. Patrick's Day outfit here so you can see the cardigan. This is another great option for adding a bit of whimsy to your spring outfits. It's super soft and comfortable, and I'm pretty sure it was hand-stitched.

Yellow Mary Jane Espadrilles -- I mentioned these in my favorites. I've only worn them out and about once, but I've got big plans for these pretty yellow mary janes. They're just the right amount of casual without being boring. That said, they're pretty flimsy, and I wouldn't recommend wearing them if you're going to be doing a lot of walking.

Hand Warmers -- I feel like these are the odd man out this month. I don't know about where you live, but we've not really had much cold weather this March. That said, I don't own a pair of these, but I did share them in my Working Mom's Christmas Gift Guide. They've got really good reviews.

2 Weeks of Early Spring Outfit Ideas

It's time for another real outfit roundup. Every two weeks, I share the outfits I wore in real life along with a brief discussion for each and links to shop the same or similar items. This past two weeks has seen a drastic shift in temperatures as my area has finally seemed to embrace Spring. Our pecan trees are finally starting to get some green on them, too, so our warmer weather should be here to stay.

That said, this is probably the last outfit roundup for awhile that will have a full-blown sweater in it. And it may even be it for cardigans. Our springs are usually pretty warm, and if the past week has been any indication, I don't think I'll be needing a removable layer for much longer, if at all.

This outfit roundup has quite a few newer pieces in it, as I budgeted in some fresh pieces for the season. Last week, I talked about how one of this spring's biggest trends was designed just for me (read the post here), and I've been taking advantage of being able to find updated pieces in the styles that I love. While a majority of this post has new items in it, you should know that I bought everything on sale, and in the case of Old Navy with Super Cash and rewards points. I rarely buy anything at full price. Now, on to the outfits!

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Blouse | Dress (similar) | Shoes (similar, similar)

I wore this on a Saturday that we just kind of piddled around town. The only thing I really remember is going to get bobas that afternoon, and that's honestly only because we took a picture. Speaking of pictures, please ignore the terrible lighting in this one. I could not get it adjusted correctly and gave up.

Anyway, my dress is several years old. It either came from Target or Old Navy -- I can't remember which one. I can't find anything that's really similar to it, so I linked to something that kind of gives the same vibes. It is spaghetti strap so I wanted to layer something over it. I had just gotten in this gorgeous lace, tie-front blouse from Old Navy, and it was perfect. I definitely recommend it as a lightweight layering option for spring and summer.

Blouse | T-shirt (similar) | Skirt | Shoes (similar, similar)

Did I wear the exact same lace blouse the next day? Yes, I did. I layered it over a basic, olive green tee that I paired with this beautiful green-and-rose floral patchwork skirt. It's one of those skirts that went viral last year. I now own three different versions of it, so I'd say that it went viral for good reason. In my opinion, they're worth paying full price for.

Anyway, we decided to ride to a nearby town for lunch and a movie. We say Hoppers, which was really cute and had a nice message about protecting the environment.

Shirt | Cardigan | Skirt (similar) | Boots

This was a teacher work day, so no students. It was fairly chilly out, so I needed layers. I've worn my coffee club tee with this skirt before, so I knew they worked together. I decided not to tuck the shirt this go 'round and forego a belt to be more casual.

This star cardigan was on top of the pile, so I grabbed it. It has brown stitching on the pockets, the cuffs of the sleeves, and around the hem, so it was a nice complement. Honestly, I would have worn it even if it wasn't. That's how much I love this cardigan.

T-Shirt | Cardigan | Skirt | Belt | Shoes | Necklace

My goal for St. Patrick's Day was to wear as much green as possible, and I think I did a pretty good job. I bought this Lucky Charms marshmallow tee specifically for the holiday, but I'll wear it all year long. The tee is very soft and stretchy, but the design isn't sublimated. It's not super crunchy, though, so I'm not that mad about it.

I paired it with this old green, floral skirt that I've had for years. About halfway through the day I remembered that the last time I wore it, I got super glue on it. I don't think it was very noticeable, though, so I probably won't toss it just yet.

Then I layered this adorable green, embroidered flower cardigan over the top. It's so soft, and I'm pretty sure it was hand-stitched. I love it and can't wait to find other ways to wear it. Unfortunately, I think our weather has taken an irreversible turn for the warm.

I finished it out with my new green mary jane flats, which I have been wearing a lot lately. I love the alternative buckle style on these. So much easier than having to undo and redo a buckle every time I take them off or put them on.

Sweater | Skirt | Boots

I almost didn't order this skirt, but I'm so glad I did. It's basically everything I've ever wanted in a skirt. It's super simple with a sweet bit of lace detailing at the hem. It's thin but fully lined. It's 70% cotton, which means it's incredibly soft.

I decided to go with a soft all over type of outfit and paired this pretty gray sweater with pink flowers over the top. It's surprisingly good quality. The neck is pretty wide, but I would not have gone down a size (I ordered it in large so it would be a bit looser).  It's really soft and has a nice stretch.

Dress | Cardigan | Shoes | Headband (similar)

This dress is such a pretty pattern for spring. You can't see it since I'm wearing the cardigan, but it's got a pretty ruffle detail going all around the neckline. I got it in a medium so that the shoulders and arm holes would not be so snug, which resulted in the bust being a tad too big. I'm pretty sure it's going to shrink in the wash, though. I'll keep you updated!

This cardigan is 100% cotton. It's great quality, and I was comfortable in it all day long. I was worried when it first came in that the material was going to be too stiff. Sadly, this gorgeous red color is sold out, but it's still available in other colors.

Sweater Vest | Lace Top | Skirt | Shoes | Necklace | Bracelet

I really enjoyed this outfit. I started with the blue sweater vest. This is the same vest as the red one I've been wearing the last few months. It's the same great quality, and I still love those big, gold buttons on the front. Anyway, I matched it to the blue in the pattern of this gorgeous dusty rose skirt. It's the same as the patchwork skirt from earlier in the post.

I knew I needed to layer the vest over something, so I pulled out my long-sleeve lace blouse. It was a nice complement to the white in the skirt's pattern. Then I decided to create a bookend effect and matched my shoes to the vest. These are the same mary janes as the green pair, just in blue.

Blouse | Skirt | Belt | Shoes (similar, similar)

We're skipping the weekend since I literally spent both days in my pjs recovering from what was honestly not a great week at school. I was determined to have a better week, so I decided to start the week off with a bright, colorful, cheerful outfit. I really love how this one turned out.

I started with this striped blouse. It's a textured, knitted fabric that has great stretch to it. It's got functional, wooden buttons going down the front. It fits like a t-shirt but definitely does not give off casual, t-shirt vibes.

Pairing it with this favorite yellow striped skirt was kind of an accident. It was not my original idea, but when I saw them hanging next to each other, I couldn't help but try them out together. I added the belt for a bit of division between the two different stripe patterns, then matched my shoes to the belt.

Blouse | Skirt | Belt | Shoes (similar) | Headband (similar) | Sunglasses (similar)

This outfit was a bit of a happy accident as well. When I ordered this skirt, I was expecting it to be more purple than it is in real life. In person, it's green. I realize that it doesn't look green in the pictures; you'll just have to trust me.

Anyway, I was trying to decide what to pair this pretty blouse with. It's got gold suns embroidered into it. Somehow, it works perfectly with this skirt. I can't tell you how -- it just does, especially once I added this cream-colored belt to it.

I decided to really play up the gold embroidery and added a gold sparkly headband and gold sparkly flats. The flats have been in my closet for years; I'm pretty sure I got them from Old Navy, but I did find a pair that looks very similar. My headband came in a promotional gift, but I found a pack of headbands in a similar style for y'all.

Blouse | Pants | Belt | Shoes

Here's another all green look for y'all. I'd been thinking about this blouse with these pants for several days, so I took the plunge.

These pants are the same ones as my yellow patch pocket pants. I finally bit the bullet and got the dark green. I'm happy to report that the main button closure on this pair was attached much better than the yellow pair, although the hidden button was not. I love these pants. The cropped length makes them ankle length on me, which is my preference. They're the perfect amount of stretchy, too, and are comfortable for all day wear.

My blouse, unfortunately, is starting to sell out in this pattern online. It comes in a few other solid colors, and you might be able to find it in the red floral in a store (that one is completely gone online). I love this style of blouse. The puff sleeves aren't huge, and the decorational buttons are a nice detail. I got this in a medium so it would be a bit looser.

Dress | Pants (similar) | Shoes (similar, similar) | Bag | Sunglasses (similar)

Would you believe this is actually a dress? I was so excited for this to come in, only for it to be way too short for me to wear to school. But I really wanted to wear it to school, so I got creative. I decided to treat it like a tunic top instead of a dress and paired it over a pair of white linen pants. I felt very nostalgic wearing a dress over a pair of pants -- like I was going back in time to the early 2000s. I heard that's back in style now.

I have ordered a half slip, skirt extender to try with this dress, and I've got some under-skirt shorts as well. I still don't think I'll be able to wear it to school, but hopefully it'll make it where I'll feel comfortable wearing it over the summer. It really is cute -- it's just very short, even with me ordering it a size up. Like, I can't raise my arms without my butt being exposed!

My linen pants are a year or two old, but they came from Old Navy, and they pretty much have white linen pants every year, so that's what I linked to.

Dress | Cardigan | Shoes

That brings us to last Friday. I didn't really try with this outfit. I wanted to wear the dress, and I wanted to wear a cardigan. I did not want to do black, which would have been super easy and definitely would have matched. I wanted some color.

So I started with my shoes. I went with my green mary jane flats, which are understated but still add personality. Then I decided to go crazy with prints and pulled out this fun and colorful floral-leopard-print mix cardigan. Does it match? Not really. But also, kind of yes. Regardless, I like the bit of whimsy it added to the classic polka dots.

Top (similar) | Shorts | Belt | Shoes (similar, similar) | Necklace | Bracelet

And since I have it, here's what I wore on Saturday. We went to the annual Peanut Proud Festival, and I wanted to be cute but comfortable. This is definitely a repeated outfit from last year and one that you can expect to see again this summer. I still love these flowy shorts so much. They're easy to wear and make me feel way more put together than a pair of denim shorts.

I paired them with this seamless baby tee that I got from Target last year; they still offer it in black and white, so I linked to it as well as a different brand in a pretty close color match to this blue. I like these for layering or for when I want something to fit snugly without feeling like a stuffed sausage.

2026 Spring Reading List: 10 Books to Add to Your TBR

It hasn't been that long since I posted my first reading roundup for 2026, which means it must be time for a new seasonal reading list! Before we jump into my recs, let's review my reading habits so far this year.

So far in 2026, I've read twenty-one total books. Ten of those were new reads, and eleven were rereads (two full series). That account for all of January and February and the first week or so of March, so about two-and-a-half months. I feel like that's a bit on the low side but pretty on par with last year's pace. This time of year is busy in schools as we really start to get into the nitty gritty of our content. In my class, especially, January and February typically cover the toughest concepts and skills of the year. Those months are also the peak of hog show season, which means less free time for reading on top of the reduced mental space for deeper topics.

This is technically the second seasonal reading list for 2026. I published my Winter Reading List in December with the knowledge that it would include January and February. That list included twenty titles total. I've read six of them so far, and I have started reading a seventh title. Let's check in with the rest of my 2025 reading lists.

• 2025 Fall Reading List - I have read seven of the twenty titles included on this list. One of the books I somehow also included in the Winter Reading List. That book, The Housewarming, is on this year's One Woman Book Club list for August. 
• 2025 Summer Reading List - I read six of the fifteen books on this list. Three of the unread titles are part of this year's One Woman Book Club.
• 2025 Spring Reading List - I'm so embarrassed to admit this, but I've only read two of the ten titles on last year's spring list. That might be why I put four of them on this year's One Woman Book Club.

Boy Swallows Universe

Author: Trent Dalton 

This coming-of-age story is my March book club pick. It is about a young boy named Eli whose only steady adult influence is a notorious felon who holds the national record for successful prison escapes. Life's challenges are starting to stack up around Eli -- his father is lost, his mother's in prison, and his stepdad is a heroin dealer. Meanwhile, he's falling in love for the first time, facing off against some truly bad guys, and trying to save his mom...all before starting high school.

The House at Mermaid's Cove

Author: Lindsay Jayne Alford

My April book club pick is written by one of my all-time favorite historical fiction authors. It's set during World War II on the shores of Cornwall where Alice has just washed ashore after she survived a German U-boat torpedo. She's found by Viscount Jack Trewella, who believes Alice is either a prisoner of war or a spy. Alice seizes the chance to reinvent herself, and as she begins to fall for the Viscount, she realizes she's not the only one with secrets.

Call the Canaries Home (May)

Author: Laura Barrow

This is my book club pick for May. It's set in a small southern town and revolves around a trio of sisters reuniting to dig up a time capsule twenty-eight years after they buried it. That was also the year Savannah's twin sister, Georgia, disappeared. Inside the time capsule, the sisters find a photo taken on the day of Georgia's disappearance, and in the background is a familiar woman. Savannah's sisters just want to move forward, but Savannah can't let it drop.

The Teacher

Author: Freida McFadden

I've never read anything by this author, despite her viral popularity. None of the ones that have been all over social media have interested me in the least, but this story caught my attention. Maybe because I'm a teacher. Anyway, this is about an inappropriate teacher-student relationship. Eve, a teacher who isn't involved in the scandal, believes there's more to the scandal than meets the eye. But the student involved, Addie, will do anything to protect her secrets.

The Lies They Told

Author: Ellen Marie Wiseman

When Lena and her daughter arrive in America, they are separated from her mother and teenage brother who are deported back to Germany. A widowed family relative, Silas, reluctantly allows them to come live with him in Virginia, where Lena is expected to care for Silas's home and children. Already struggling to adjust to her new reality, things are made even tougher for Lena when a social worker from the Eugenics Office sends her away for promiscuity and feeblemindedness.

The People's Library

Author: Veronica G. Henry

I feel like this book is so timely right now, and even though sci-fi is not my typical genre, I'm pretty excited about this one. The People's Library is a collection of human consciousness. It includes humanity's greatest minds and historical figures who have been recreated through a controversial technology. An anti-tech rebellion is taking shape, and the library's curator finds herself at the crossroads.

The London Seance Society

Author: Sarah Penner

I have high hopes for this book after reading The Lost Apothecary and absolutely loving it. This one is about a psychic medium who's gained international fame for her work summoning the spirits of murder victims so that they can identify their killers. Lenna wants answers about her sister's death, but she is deeply distrustful of Vaudeline's process. In order to build that trust, Lenna takes on the role of understudy as Vaudeline attempts to solve a high-profile murder in London that involves the exclusive London Seance Society.

Chasing Stardust

Author: Erica Lucke Dean

This book gives me an Elizabethtown vibe, and I like that movie a lot, so fingers crossed this lives up to expectations. Zoey is traveling across the country spreading her mother's ashes. The trail she's following is David Bowie's 1972 Ziggy Stardust tour, along which Zoey's grandmother claims her mother was conceived. She also claims that David Bowie is Zoey's grandfather. The trip seems doomed to failure when Zoey breaks down outside Nashville, then she meets Dash at a diner and he offers to drive her the rest of the way.

The Second Mrs. Astor

Author: Shana Abe

I remember when the Titanic movie first came out way back when that I was kind of fascinated by the Astors, but I've never really learned much about them beyond the fact that John Jacob Astor went down with the ship in 1912. His wife, Madeleine Talmage survived and give birth to their son. There was a ton of scandal around their marriage, but after the disaster, Madeleine is regarded as a virtuous, tragic heroine. All that's left is for her to decide what's next.

This Book Will Bury Me

Author: Ashley Winstead

I've been into psychological thrillers lately, and this sounds like a good one. Having just lost her father, Jane dives into the world of online true crime forums. When three college girls are found brutally murdered in Idaho, Jane and her online friends become part of the investigation. An investigation filled with contradictions that feels scripted and too polished.

Shop My Closet: Spring Fashion Finds I Love

If you've been around the blog for awhile, then you'll know that following trends isn't something I typically do unless I absolutely love it. In this stage of my life, I'm making a more conscious effort to dress for myself and not worry about what other people think about the resulting outfits. In fact, I've been trying really hard to ignore what's "in" and wear what I want, how I want, when I want.

That hasn't always been easy, though. I've spent too much of my life trying to follow someone else's sense of style -- watching what everyone around me was wearing and trying to copy it on myself. Never quite feeling comfortable with the outcome. Honestly, it took me until I was well into my thirties to finally start feeling comfortable in my own skin and start dressing like myself...and that sense of self has evolved as I've become less and less concerned with other people's expectations of me.

That said, trends by and large don't turn my head. But there is one current spring trend that feels like it came right from my soul: Poet Core. This aesthetic is already a core element of my current day-to-day style. It's romantic meets literary chic or an academia vibe. We're talking preppy layers, pleats and plaids, vintage style, floral prints, softer color palates, earth tones, cable knits, pointelle, cardigans, flowy skirts, fun socks and tights, loafers, mary janes, lace up boots -- essentially all of my favorite things all rolled into one! So obviously I am here for it.

With this style being so popular right now, it's been easier than ever for me to update my closet with some fresh, true-to-my-style pieces, which is what I'm sharing with y'all today. As always, I shop with a pretty strict budget (and mostly during sales) -- my funds are far from unlimited. I also just did a huge closet cleanout, which is something I try to do at least a couple of times a year. Not necessarily to make room for new items or justify a new purchase or two but to continue to curate a wardrobe that feels authentically me by releasing clothes that no longer serve me.

But enough about that. Let's talk about the new spring additions I've added to my closet within the last two months. Of course, if you've been around long enough, you'll know that I always shop with the intention of finding pieces that I can wear pretty much all year round (or close to it anyway -- our summers are way too hot for anything knit).

White Polka Dot Dress | Blush Long Sleeve Dress | Red Floral Print Dress | Green Polka Dot Dress

Long Lace Vest | Green Pants | Green Patchwork Skirt | Green Mary Janes

Red Button-Front Cardigan | Green Floral Blouse | Lace Tie-Front Blouse | Dark Floral Skirt

Blue Sweater Vest | Light Blue Skirt | Yellow Star Cardigan | Leopard-Floral Cardigan

Purple Striped Sweater | Gray Flower Sweater | Bright Floral Skirt | Yellow Espadrille Mary Janes

A few notes before you start shopping. All of the items I'm sharing are currently in my closet, although I have not worn every single piece just yet. It's pretty equally divided between Old Navy, Amazon, and Shein. All were bought on sale, and in the case of Old Navy by using Super Cash and rewards points. Most of the clothing is going to be size 6 or medium (I like things to be a bit looser these days), and the shoes are size 7. Several of these items I own in multiple styles and/or colors, which I'll detail below.

Dresses

White Polka Dot Dress - I haven't worn this yet, but I am in love. I adore polka dots, but it's really hard to find them in white with black dots, so when I came across this one at Old Navy I knew I had to have it. It is a classic shape that won't go out of style ever and will be easy for me layer as the seasons change. It also comes in black with white dots.

Blush Long Sleeve Dress - I picked this up on a clearance rack at my local Old Navy, so I got it for a steal. It's not listed as clearance on the website, but it is starting to sell out.

Red Floral Print Dress - I actually bought a blouse in this exact pattern before I knew there was a dress to match. I love this pattern so much that I bought the dress, too. I love the ruffle around the collar. It's fully lined, and it's got a tie at the waist. Fair warning, I got this in a medium so that it wouldn't be constricting around my shoulders and ribs, which resulted in the bust being very loose. That said, I know I would have been uncomfortable in the small. This comes in a few more patterns.

Green Polka Dot Dress - How cute is this dress? I am low key in love with this weird shade of green. Is it chartreuse? I don't really know, but it's perfect and a breath of fresh air from the olive green chokehold of the last several years (I still love olive green, tbh). I haven't worn this one yet, but I can't wait to style it.

Bottoms

Green Pants - This is my second pair of these pants, and I'm sure it won't be the last. They're great for work without feeling stuffy. They're cropped, which for me means that they're ankle length, which is what I want. The patch pockets are a nice detail that makes them interesting. They've got the right amount of stretch to keep them comfortable and easy to move in. Definitely worth the higher price point in my opinion.

Green Patchwork Skirt - I own this skirt in three different styles now. It went viral on social media last year for good reason. It really is that good! I love the dusty pink floral and neutral floral, too.

Dark Floral Skirt - I haven't worn this exact skirt just yet, but I have worn the other skirt in the exact same style that I bought at the same time (it's this pretty floral paisley print one). I have big plans for this one; the timing just hasn't felt right yet. Soon, though. Soon.

Light Blue Skirt - I am so glad I took the chance on ordering this skirt! It is perfect. I'm currently resisting the urge to order all the other colors, too.

Bright Floral Skirt - Another one I haven't worn yet, although I have worn its counterpart (this warm floral pattern had me dreaming of summer vacation). This one has so many colors in it. It's so bright and fun, and I can't wait to wear it out.

Tops

Long Lace Vest - I haven't worn this yet, but I have big plans. I mean, how cute is it?! It brings back so many memories from the late 90s and early 00s. Plus it just feels like a romantic touch.

Green Floral Blouse - I actually own this blouse in two patterns, the green floral print shown in the graphic above and a gorgeous red floral print. I love this style of blouse from Old Navy and have owned quite a few of them over the years. I always go up a size in this style top so that it has a nice, flowy fit to it, and to compensate for the inevitable shrinkage in the first wash.

Lace Tie-Front Blouse - I bought this on sale because I saw it and couldn't stop thinking about it. I'm so glad I did. I've been treating it like a vest and wearing it like a third-piece layer to finish out an outfit. It's an unexpected way to add interest to an outfit without adding a lot of bulk.

Cardigans & Sweaters

Red Button-Front Cardigan - I hate to be the one to tell you that this gorgeous red button-up cardigan is sold out, especially since I literally just bought it, but it has. It is still available in other colors, though, and I really can't recommend this one enough. It's 100% cotton and was so comfortable, despite not being as soft as I was expecting.

Blue Sweater Vest - This is the blue version of the red sweater vest I already own. I also now have a brown version thanks to a sweet coworker who gifted me a hand-me-down. These are the third-piece layer I didn't know my closet was missing.

Yellow Star Cardigan - This cardigan is well on its way to becoming my entire personality. I mean, I knew I liked it when I ordered it. I didn't expect to fall head over heels in love with it or for it to work with so many things in my closet. Plan to see it a ton until it gets too hot for me to wear it without passing out. It comes in other colors, too, so if yellow's not your color, still check it out.

Leopard-Floral Cardigan - This one is just fun and adds a bit of whimsy to any outfit you wear it with. It's also incredibly soft.

Purple Striped Sweater - I love short-sleeved sweaters for spring, and purple is just speaking to me these days. This was much better quality than I was expecting for the price. It's a nice, thick weave and very soft. The colors are great in person. Only thing to note is that what I thought was a black stripe is actually navy blue, which I actually like better.

Gray Flower Sweater - I fell in love with this sweater as soon as I saw it and patiently waited for it to go on sale. It's so good, y'all. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, and the colors are just perfect.

Green Flower Cardigan (not pictured) - I wanted to include this beauty of a cardigan because it's so great, but I couldn't use any of the pictures from its listing page. It's another whimsical piece that's nice quality. I'm pretty sure it was hand-sewn, too, based on the stitching.

Shoes

Green Mary Janes - I have been thinking about these since I bought the blue pair back in January. I've been wearing both pairs a lot lately. They just feel perfect for spring, and they're very comfortable. The footbed is made of memory foam, so it's soft. They're faux suede and have a really unique buckle. The buckle itself works in that you can adjust to make the strap tighter, but to get them on and off you just hook or unhook it. I can't explain it, so go watch the video on the product page. It's a great feature, and I wish all my shoes with buckle straps worked this way!

Yellow Espadrille Mary Janes - Not gonna lie, I almost didn't buy these, but I'm really glad I did. They are so cute, and I absolutely love the color. That said, these shoes were not made for walking long distances. They're pretty flimsy and have almost no support despite the cloth material feeling pretty stiff. I was fine in them to teach, but by the end of the day had a blister on my right heel.

What I've Read So Far in 2026

Winter is drawing to a close, which means it is time for a reading roundup! This is the first reading roundup of 2026, not counting the very brief review post I shared back in January of the last three books I read in 2025.

I know you're tired of me saying it, but this year has been off to a rough start, and that has impacted my reading. January was tough for a lot of different reasons, then came the hog show in February, which took up almost all of my free time. In short, not only did I have less time to read, I had little desire to read anything new. As a result, I only finished ten never-before-read books, but I did reread two series in full, accounting for eleven books between them.

Since rereading my favorites is a big part of my reading personality, I've decided to start including those at the bottom of each seasonal reading roundup post. I figure if they're good enough for me to keep coming back to again and again, they deserve a spot on the list.

Here's a look at what I've read since the start of the year.

Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon

Author: Annie Mare

This book hooked me from the very first chapter. It made me laugh out loud more than once and threatened tears a few times. If you couldn't guess from the title, it's about the multiverse, specifically two timelines colliding in a way that feels an awful lot like fate.

Tressa Fay -- runs a famous hair salon

Meryl -- water engineer, disappears mysteriously, somehow manages to text TF five months in the future (it's May for her, October for TF)

lots of parallel universe moments woven in from different characters' pov's, feels random at first but slowly starts to make sense

eventually the timelines converge (or something) and everything corrects itself -- not just TF and M, but their relationships with other people in their lives including TF and her dad and Meryl and her sister

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

Author: Grady Hendrix

I wanted to read this one because I loved The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. It's always nice to find books in your favorite genres that feel fresh, new, and even unconventional, and I think this author does that really well. This novel is set in 1970 at a maternity home somewhere in Florida. The main character, 15-year-old Neva/Fern, has been brought there by her disappointed father to have her baby in secret. The baby will then be adopted, and Fern will return home where everyone will act like it never happened. Of course, it won't be that simple. At the home, Fern makes three friends: Rose, Zinnia, and Holly. When they learn the true circumstances of how Holly ended up at the Home, the girls vow to help her escape. Enter the witches. Once the girls complete their first working, everything changes, and not always for the better.

This is going to be a bit of a longer review than I normally do for these roundups, but this book, for me, deserves the extra space. First, I want to be honest about how I read this one. It was meant to be my first book of the year, but I had another library hold come available at the same time, so I was kind of flipping between them. Cosmic Love ended up being what I needed at that time, so I put this one to the side for a few days while I read that one cover to cover. Then I was in the right headspace to read this much more serious book. I don't read the author's note very often, but this one is worth reading -- at least the first part where Mr. Hendrix explains where the idea from the book came from. Maternity homes were a very real thing, although finding actual history about them is tough, so while this book was absolutely a work of fiction, there's quite a bit of historical truth worked into it.

None of This Is True

Author: Lisa Jewell

What a ride! This book, y'all. Wow. I'm not a big true crime reader or watcher or listener. I enjoy these types of stories occasionally, but they are not going to be my top choice. This one kept me glued to the pages...as much as I could be around jury duty anyway. It took me a full week to read it, but had my schedule not been in a constant state of upheaval, it would have taken much less time. Anyway, this is about a podcaster, Alex, who runs into a rather odd woman on her birthday. Turns out, she and Josie share a birthday, and Josie manages to convince Alex to center her next podcast around her. But Josie is definitely not what she seems. She has latched onto Alex as her next best thing and will stop at nothing to remove all obstacles in her path.

Fated in Blood (Nocturne Vampire Clan series)

Author: L.A. McGinnis

I'll be honest. I don't really remember this one, but I must have enjoyed it since I downloaded the second book in the series. Evie is a slayer who's been exiled from her infamous family. While trying to rescue her sister from a vampire overlord, she's turned into a vampire herself against her will.

The Restoration Garden

Author: Sara Blaydes

My January book pick was not what I expected, but in a good way. It is a dual timeline story set primarily during World War II, specifically the fall of 1940, with the present day timeline serving as a tool to fill in some missing pieces of the story. Irene Clarke is young and naive and feels like an outcast from her family, so when James, a charming British RAF pilot, shows her attention, it doesn't take much for him to convince her to run away with him to be married. Turns out, he's selling secrets to Germany. Irene is coerced into helping MI5 catch James, then disappears one night during the Blitz, assumed to have fled England with James, leaving her family to believe her a traitor. You can read my full, in-dept review here.

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth

Author: Barbara O'Neal

Y'all already know this is one of my favorite authors, and she did not disappoint with my February book club pick. This is the story of Mariah, a former Olympic skier whose career was ended unexpectedly in a tragic accident. Struggling with her recovery, she decides to finish her recently-passed mother's final book. She hires Veronica, a recently-divorced middle-aged woman who's trying to figure out what's next for her in life, to accompany her on the trip. Veronica will not only help Mariah with the physical demands of traveling but also with the research aspects attached to the book. This is a book of healing, and it was beautifully written. Read my full review here.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Author: Benjamin Stevenson

This was one of those books that I had to make myself stop reading so I could get some sleep. This book begins with a set of rules for detective stories, which our narrator, Ernest, references throughout his retelling of the story. If you read this as an ebook, you'll have to backtrack to get to them, but I recommend bookmarking them so you'll know what he's talking about when he does refer to them. So basically, Ernest's family is having a reunion at a ski resort to welcome home his brother, Michael, who's just been released from prison for murder. Ernest is who turned Michael in, so he's sort of the black sheep of the family. It's already destined to be an eventful weekend, then bodies start dropping thanks to a serial killer who's crashed the reunion.

Devil's Backbone trilogy

Author: Tate James

I really enjoy this author, but I kind of got away from her books when she kept releasing books that were mostly featuring gang-like groups. This is kind of in that same morally gray area, but instead of a gang, it's about a secret society. It's also got the stepbrother and enemies to lovers trope going on. It's college age, so they're all over 18, which I appreciate. Basically, Ashley is selected to participate in the Devil's Backbone Society -- against her will -- and discovers a conspiracy that's tied to countless deaths and disappearances.

And now for the series that I reread in January and February. I'll go in order.

The Librarian's Coven

Author: Kathryn Moon

It had been several years since I read this one, so luckily I didn't remember a lot of the plot. It was almost like reading it for the first time again. Johanna gets a job working at the library on Canderfey University, the top school for training witches in the nation. She believes she doesn't have any magic until she accidentally unleashes an ancient God onto the campus simply by tracing the words written in a book. Turns out, she's a Scrivens, a type of witch that uses the written word to cast their spells. Now, she's joining a coven, finding true love, learning her magic, reuniting a people, and preventing a war. All over the course of four books.

Gamer Girls series

Author: Auryn Hadley and Kitty Cox

This is one of my absolute favorite series. I usually reread it every year, but it's been about two since I last did a full read through of all seven books. The overarching plot line is that an online hate group is doing everything in its power to prevent women from having success of any kind in the gaming industry, whether that's designing them or playing them professionally. And when I say anything, I really mean anything. The character development in these is so on point, y'all. The romantic relationships are all healthy, even if they aren't all conventional. It's just a damn good story. Book 5 is my favorite.