A Mid-June Outfit Roundup

How have another two weeks of summer already passed us by?! Seriously, I feel like I've got nothing to show for summer so far.

Anyway, welcome to our second real outfit roundup of the summer break. For those of you new to the blog, this a twice-monthly series in which I share the outfits I wore in real life along with brief explanations about what I was doing (if I can remember), the thought process behind the outfit, and links to shop exact or similar products.

The past two weeks have been, well, uneventful. We did manage to get in a trip to our local water park, but the rainy weather has kept us from going most days. In fact, the first named tropical system of the season just moved through our area this week! Hopefully, we'll get some nice weather next week so we can make good use of our water park season passes.

So what have we been doing? Well, Alexis has spent extended time with both sets of grandparents. We've gone to the library several times and have eaten at some local favorites that we don't really get the chance to during the school year. Alexis has been doing lots of art projects, and I'm still working on my diamond art bookmarks. We've also done a good bit of work around the house, cleaning out, donating, and throwing away.

I think that's got you caught up on our not-so-exciting past two weeks. Onto the outfits!

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

Top | Shorts | Sandals | Earrings

If you had told me that I would one day find a pair of long denim shorts that I actually liked, I would have laughed you out of the room. But these work. They are not a bermuda cut, which is always too slim for my beefier thighs. These are baggy with a 9-inch inseam. They also have a cute little stitching pattern going down the sides and a raw hem.

I decided to keep things kind of simple and summery with this white handkerchief halter top. It has a built-in bra! It's very soft and has just the right amount of stretch to it. It stayed where it needed to all day, so I didn't feel like I was constantly tugging it up or over or down. It's also not see through, which is always a concern with white.

I decided to add the yellow-and-orange tassel earrings for a bit of unexpected color, then finished out the look with my straw-look sandals that are still available in most sizes.

Dress | Sandals | Necklace

How cute is this dress? It's 100 percent cotton and a midi length, which is more like a maxi length on me. It's gathered at the waist, which adds a nice detail, and it has a cute little tie at the bust. It comes in a couple other options, as well.

My sandals are still available in whole sizes at Old Navy. They're a nice neutral to wear when you don't want your shoes to upstage your dress. I will say that the ankle strap is almost too short. They wrap around your ankle in a unique way. I'm wearing my usual size, which is not too small, but could only buckle the ankle strap on the loosest hole. So keep that in mind if you're interested.

T-shirt (similar) | Shorts (similar)

I pulled out this favorite outfit from summers past on Tuesday. It was a stormy day, so what we had planned to do didn't happen. Instead, we just hung out around the house.

This lightning bolt tee has been in my collection for a few years now. It's no longer available from the seller where I bought it, but I think I found it somewhere else. At the very least, the lightning bolts match the ones on my shirt. I can't speak to quality.

These lime green striped linen shorts continue to be my warm weather go tos. It's amazing how much they go with! There are a bunch of green striped linen shorts options out there, but not many in this bright shade. I did find a pair that's close, though, so that's what I linked to.

Dress | Sandals

When I saw this dress in Old Navy, I fell in love, but I really didn't think the colors were going to work for me. So I decided to try it on since we all know dressing room lighting shows everything. I love this pink floral pattern so much. It's bright and fun and didn't make me look pale and washed out. This is the same dress as the purple boho dress that I've shared in previous posts (and that will make an appearance later in this one). I still love all the details of this dress, y'all. It comes in so many different patterns, so you should definitely check it out!

My sandals were actually gifted to me by a coworker who got them on clearance in her size only to discover that they run really small. Like a whole size. I did find the exact style of sandal on the brand site, but they only have it in silver. Mine are gold, and I can't find anything that looks close enough to these for me to link to for y'all. In this brand, which is the Beach by Matisse, I wear a size 8 instead of my usual size 7. Like I said, they run small.

Dress | Slip Shorts | Sneakers | Necklace

I do not remember what we did on Friday. I've really not done a good job of leaving myself clues this summer!

Anyway, this dress is so cute and would be a good one for the 4th of July if you need something. It's marked way down, too -- 70% off! This dress is so flattering on, and I love the flared skirt. The tie detail at the bust is purely decoration. I will say that it's a little short, so I am wearing a pair of white slip shorts underneath to keep things modest.

I decided to go with a sportier look, so I finished the outfit out with my new white canvas sneakers. These suckers are really comfortable. They have so much padding and don't rub at all.

T-shirt | Shorts | Sandals (similar)

Can you believe I wore this outfit to a steakhouse? At dinner no less! Yeah, it's definitely not my usual go-out-to-dinner style, but I also didn't want to put together a whole new outfit at the end of the day.

I was home by myself this day, so comfort was really the only thing on the agenda. And these pull-on denim shorts are certainly comfortable. They're super soft and stretchy. You can't see in this picture, but they do have a drawstring waist. I also got them in two other colors. I did size up to a large in these in an attempt to have nice and roomy legs. They're not super tight, but they're also not as loose as the picture on the product page. Honestly, I probably could have gone up to the XL.

My t-shirt is my one nod to the sardine trend. I personally don't understand this trend. Surely not all these people are fans of these gross little fish, right? Anyway, I don't hate this tee, though. It's oversized without being awkwardly long on me. The design isn't one of those crinkly sticker ones, so it should hold up nicely, and the shirt itself is very soft.

I've had my slide sandals for a really long time and honestly need to replace them, but I can't find a pair that are as comfortable as these, so I just keep holding out. The pair I'm linking to are the pair I will probably end up ordering at some point.

Dress (sold out) | Sandals | Necklace

I know this was Sunday, and I know that my husband and I were by ourselves. I remember going to lunch at Panera and maybe the bookstore? I don't actually know.

This dress has been so frustrating to link for y'all. I got it back before school let out, like toward the end of April. Despite it being fully stocked in my local store, I could not find it on Target's website. It finally popped up as being available about a month later, but now it's gone again! So I officially give up. It's just not meant to be shared, I guess.

Top | Skirt | Sandals (similar)

Monday actually started with my alarm clock going off. I had an early-morning appointment with a lawyer to start the process of settling my biological father's estate. So obviously I wanted to put a bit of effort into my outfit, and I'm pleased with how this turned out.

I started with this dark floral tank. It's got decorative buttons going down the back for some added interest. It is 100 percent cotton, so it's really nice quality. It is meant to be cropped, but remember that I'm petite. It actually is the perfect waist-length to be able to leave untucked without feeling sloppy. It comes in a bunch of different options, too.

My skirt is one of the cotton-linen skirts that I've been raving about for the past few months. This is the light pink, which was the perfect complement for the pink shades in the floral print of the top.

My sandals are from last year, but Old Navy has a similar pair this summer that I'll link to for you.

Dress | Sandals

I cannot remember what we did on Tuesday. At all. I asked Alexis, and she couldn't remember either. We clearly left the house. I wouldn't have wasted this dress on a stay-at-home day. I also remember actually styling my hair.

Anyway, this is the same dress as the pink floral dress from earlier in the post. I got this one first, and it's made a previous appearance on the blog, although it was styled for school. This go 'round I decided to wear it on its own and paired it with these gold sandals. It is the exact same outfit as the pink version.

Dress (similar) | Sandals

Yes, I realize this dress looks almost exactly like the previous dress, but they are not the same. In fact, this dress is years old. Also, they're not the same color palate. Whereas the previous dress is brown with purple flowers, this dress is all purple. Anyway, I did not wear these back-to-back. I failed to take an outfit picture on Wednesday, so there was a day in between.

I scheduled a sort-of emergency dermatologist appointment on Thursday to have a problematic skin tag removed. It had gotten hung up in my pants the day before and was really swollen, plus it was in an uncomfortable place. Hence the lack of Wednesday picture and this incredibly loose dress for Thursday. I did get the skin tag removed as well as a place on my right arm. In case you're wondering, I've only had a total of three things removed in my lifetime. I wear sunscreen religiously, have never gotten in a tanning bed, and don't lay out. I'll admit that I was overdue for a dermatologist appointment (my last experience was not great), so the skin tag debacle was the kick in the pants I needed to make it happen.

Anyway, like I said, this dress is several years old. I got it from Target, and I think it's 100 percent cotton, which would explain why it's still in such great shape. I wear it all the time. I obviously can't link to it, but I will link to some similar options for you.

T-shirt | Shorts (similar, similar) | Shoes (similar)

That brings us to Friday. That tropical system was still lingering for most of the day, so other than going out to grab a quick lunch, we pretty much hung out at home all day. This outfit is a new combo of old pieces.

These fruit-and-vegetable printed linen shorts were one of my favorite buys from last summer. They're the Wild Fable brand, which has a pair similar ones this year. They're not food-themed, but the style and how the print is arranged is almost exactly the same. I recommend sizing up since this is more of a juniors brand. I'm wearing the large here.

My t-shirt is also from last summer, but I found a seller on Poshmark that claims to have multiple sizes. This tee is a cotton-polyester blend, so it's really soft, and as you can see it's fitted.

Prime Day 2026: My Best Ever Amazon Purchases (That Are Still Available)

Amazon Prime Day is coming early this summer. Traditionally, the summer sale is in July, which is great timing for back-to-school shopping, especially for bigger-ticket classroom items. This year, however, the sale is June 23-26. I don't know the reason for the shift, but I'm not excited about it. It is way too early to be thinking about going back to school!

To participate in this sale, you have to be a Prime member. It's $14.99 per month and gives you access to faster shipping times, streaming services, and reading benefits (First Reads is one of my favorite perks!). If you're not sure you're ready for a long-term commitment but want to take advantage of the sale, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial.

I don't always shop the Prime Day sale, and honestly I probably won't this year since it's so early. Last year, I did end up getting a few things during the sale, mostly for my classroom (they're part of today's post actually), but I did also get order a smartwatch for myself as well as a new ereader (neither of those items are still available so I can't link them).

Last year for Prime Day, I shared some recent favorite purchases as well as items on my wish list at the time. This year, I wanted to share with y'all the best purchases I've ever made from Amazon that are still available. I can't tell you which, if any, of these items will be included in this year's sale, but these are items that I wouldn't hesitate to buy again.

A few things you should know before diving in to this massive list is that I didn't list these in any particular order, other than to try to group similar items together (i.e. fashion, beauty, office, etc.). I have listed out all of my favorites with brief explanations as to what makes them so great, but if you don't feel like reading through everything, scroll to the bottom of the post for a clickable shopping widget that features every single item.

This post is not sponsored, nor is it an ad, but it does contain affiliate links, which means if you choose to shop through this post, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Sweater Socks -- These are my most-worn socks in the winter. I recommend these year after year because I wear them so much in the winter. They come in several options. I have the multicolor.

Ruffle Ankle Socks -- These are my second-most-worn socks in the winter. I like that they're just tall enough to peek out of my Chelsea boots and thin enough to wear comfortably with other types of shoes.

Chelsea Boots -- I have these in the black and cognac brown. I wear them all the time. They are comfortable for all day wear, even if you're on your feet or walking.

Leopard Print Sneakers -- These Converse look-alikes might just be my favorite sneaker to wear to school. They go with surprisingly almost everything.

BABUDOG Mary Janes -- I have these in the blue and the green, and I love them. They're an easy way to add a bit of interest to an outfit. Plus, they're really comfortable, and the buckle design makes them so easy to wear. I love that I don't have to completely undo the buckle every single time I put these on or take them off.

Cropped Corduroy Jacket -- I love this jacket for fall and spring. The cropped length is perfect for my petite stature, and the fact that it's thin makes it actually wearable for our warmer climate.

Sweatshirt Dress -- This is one of my favorite things to wear in colder weather. It's so comfortable! And warm without being too hot.

Slip Shorts -- Honestly, I'm not sure how I've gone through life for so long without these. Not only are they practical, but they're also really comfortable. I find myself wearing them even when I don't need to sometimes.

Purple Floral Skirt -- This is probably my favorite skirt in my closet. I wear it all the time. I've fixed it at least twice so that I can keep wearing it. I also own it in the khaki and just added the white red to my cart.

Viral Flowy Skirts -- There's a reason these skirts have gone viral. They're really that good. I own four (so far): flower-203, dusty pink floral, flower-231, and sage green floral. And I just added four more to my cart: brown floral, black floral-b, tangerine petal, and black floral. There are six pages of options on this one to choose from!

Cotton-Linen Blend Skirts -- This one should come as no surprise since I literally just dedicated an entire post to these skirts. These are cool and comfortable and easy to move in. They come in a ton of colors. I currently own five (light blue, light pink, yellow, white, and black).

Black Plaid Wool Skirt -- This is a classic winter skirt for me. I don't wear it all that often since it's wool, but it's a great skirt and one that I'll hold on to for years. There's a bunch of different options, including different lengths. I have the mid-calf black and white, which features faux leather-edged pockets (the longer versions do not have this feature).

Green Floral Strapless Dress -- This is one of the oldest dresses in my closet, and I've not gotten tired of wearing it yet. This is one that I'll wear until the elastic in the smocked bodice gives out. Sadly, the exact print of mine is only available in limited sizes, but it comes in a bunch of other prints so I thought it was still worth sharing.

Flowy Shorts -- Y'all know I love flowy shorts, and I keep returning to this pair. I own them in the white leaf, white blue floral, purple yellow floral, and yellow black floral. I like that they look like you're wearing a skirt but don't have to worry about accidentally flashing someone.

Loose Overalls -- I own these loose cotton overalls in three colors (black, dark army green, and ginger, which is a golden yellow in person). They're very comfortable and pretty easy to dress up.

Eyelet Blouses -- This is one of those better-than-basic tops. It feels like you're wearing a t-shirt, but it's so much more elevated than that. They're easy to dress up or dress down. I own this in white and wine red.

Long-Sleeve Basic Tees -- These are my favorite long-sleeve layering tees for cold weather. They come in a pack of three and are so soft and stretchy. I dedicated an entire review post to them last year.

Basic Ribbed Tank Tops -- These are a great basic top for the summer. I currently own this in five different colors and wear all five of them quite a bit. These are great on their own but are easy to layer, making them incredibly versatile.

Black Floral Halter Swimsuit -- This is my current favorite swimsuit. It's comfortable and cute and stays where it's meant to stay. It comes in a bunch of options. My exact one is labeled 'black.'

Crochet Swimsuit Coverup -- This is the best swimsuit coverup I've ever owned. It comes in a bunch of different colors. I have the white.

Wide Straw Belts -- These are my most-worn belts, and I highly recommend them. They're stretchy and don't have actual belt holes, so I'm not worried about outgrowing them anytime soon. They come in a pack of three or four.

Basic Belts -- These are my go-to belts for when I wear pants. They're faux leather and have been holding up nicely over the nearly two years I've been wearing them. They come in a three pack.

Surgical Steel Hoop Earrings -- My skin allergies make wearing jewelry, especially earrings, a challenge. Instead of gold or silver, I look for surgical steel, and these little huggie hoops are the earrings I wear pretty much every day. I rarely change.

Tassel Earrings -- When I do decide to get fancy with my earrings, these lightweight tassel earrings are my favorites. They add a fun flair to any outfit and don't feel like they're stretching out my earlobes. They always get noticed, too.

Rock Necklace -- Like I said earlier, I don't wear a lot of jewelry, and when I do I tend to go with smaller-style pieces. I really love this understated statement necklace. Every time I've worn it, I get complimented on it. It comes in a ton of different options; I have the mixed color stone, and it goes with practically everything.

Chunky Beaded Necklace -- Big, gumball style necklaces are really hot right now, but that's not my style at all. This necklace feels like a nice compromise for the trend. It's still got chunky beads, but they're not round. The one I own is multicolored (labeled XL23228F on the product page), but it also comes in tons of solid colors as well as options with heart charm.

Boho Beaded Choker Necklace + Matching Bracelet -- First thing you should know is that these do not come as a set, but they do match. This is one of those necklaces that can go with practically anything because it has so many different colors in it.

Hobo Bag -- This is my go-to handbag during the school year. It's big enough for me to carry all the things I might need during the day without being an actual tote bag.

Foldover Crossbody -- This is my current go-to purse. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. Despite its small size, I can fit quite a bit in it. I have the oak, which is a light pink color.

MultiSac Crossbody -- I love MultiSac bags, and this crossbody is so cute. I love all the pockets. It comes in a bunch of print options.

Belt Bag/Fanny Pack -- I bought this specifically to take on a field trip and had no idea just how much I would actually use it. This sucker has been to the amusement park, aquarium, zoo, festivals and fairs. It holds everything I need it to while freeing up my hands. I usually wear it around my waist but it can be worn like a crossbody. It's basically a fanny pack but looks way cooler.

Weekender Bag -- After years of looking at this weekender bag, I finally bit the bullet for a multi-day field trip, and y'all, it was one of the best decisions ever. This sucker is amazing. I love the shoe compartment on the bottom, and the inside of the bag is nice and roomy. It also came with some other handy accessories. Also, the straps are very sturdy (the weekender bag I had before this one lasted one whole trip before the straps broke).

Sleep Mask -- This sleep mask is amazing. I love the cushioning around the eyes and the adjustable band.

Perfect Hair Care Towel -- This is the only towel I use on my hair. I've featured it so many times on the blog that I've lost count.

Wavytalk Pencil Flat Iron -- I got this straightener when I first cut my hair short, and I've not regretted it. It's perfect for those really short layers and face-framing pieces.

Makeup Brushes -- Would you believe that I've been using this exact set of makeup brushes for the past six years? Yep, they're that good.

Makeup Removing Cloths -- These are my favorite cloths for washing my face. They're softer than regular washcloths and do a much-better job of removing makeup.

Flower Hair Clips -- These are my favorite hair clips that I've ever bought. I don't wear them all that much since I cut my hair short, but I still love them.

Ergonomic Mouse Pad -- I've been using this mousepad in my home office for the past six years, and it's held up so well. In fact, if just recently got a tear in it, and when I order a replacement, it'll be this same one.

Colored Pens --  I bought these on a whim and fell in love. Honestly, I like them better than the teacher favorite flair pens. Gasp!

Clever Fox Teacher Planner -- This is my favorite planner ever. I've used it the last two school years and have no plans to change anytime soon. I love that it's sturdier than traditional planners and that it's 100 percent customizable.

Robot Pencil Sharpener -- This was the best thing I bought for my classroom this past school year. Thanks to all the teachers who recommended this guy. It was well worth the price tag.

Chalkboard Better Than Paper Bulletin Board Roll -- I'll admit that I was skeptical about this when I bought it, but it has certainly lived up to the hype. I've been using it on my classroom bulletin board for the past three years, and it still looks pretty dang good.

Presentation Clicker Remote -- If you asked me to pick the one thing that I could not live without as a teacher, it would be this. I've bought two for myself (the second because I dropped the first one and it landed just right) and one for my mother.

Leather Desk Mat -- Okay, so this is so much better than the traditional mouse-pad material one I had been using for years. Highly recommend!

Rotating Pen Holder -- I'm not sure why it took me so long to buy one of these. Second-best thing I bought for my classroom this past school year.

Lanyard Necklaces -- I finally had to cave and get a lanyard for my school badge this past year. I hate lanyards, but these look like a necklace, which means I don't hate wearing it all day at school.

Wireless Charging Station -- I've been using this charging station for years now. It has eliminated the need for multiple cords and has reduced the amount of clutter on my nightstand. This one is specifically for Samsung devices.

Phone Case -- I should have bought this case when I first got my Samsung Flip Z phone. This thing is tough and unlike the other cases I've tried has a built-in protection screen for the cover. It also has the best hinge protection of any other case I've tried.

Serving Spoons -- These have been a really good set of serving spoons. We use them almost daily.

Cotton Dish Towels -- These are probably my most-used kitchen towels. We've had them for six years, and they're still in really good condition. Probably because they're cotton.

Cereal Storage Containers -- I'm really the only person in my house who eats cereal regularly, but I usually don't make it through a box before it goes stale. These storage containers have been such a smart purchase. I've saved so much money on cereal.

Cat Door -- We bought this when we moved into our current house, and it was the best decision.

Toy Box -- This is one of those things that we won't have in our house for much longer, but it's been such a good storage solution for our daughter the past several years.

The Cotton-Linen Skirt You'll Want in Every Color

I don't know about you, but summer is in full swing in my neck of the woods. We're talking heat, humidity, the whole nine yards. It's the time of year where if you have to be outside, you take all the precautions to prevent heat stroke.

Today's post is not specifically about dressing to survive the summer heat. Although the skirt I'm sharing with y'all today is a good option for that, it's one of those clothing items that works all year 'round. I've been raving about these SANGTREE cotton-linen skirts for months now in real outfit roundups, and they even earned a spot in my April favorite things post, so it's time for them to get their very own post!

This post is not sponsored, nor is it an ad, but it does contain affiliate links, which means if you choose to shop through this post, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

It didn't take long for this cotton-linen skirt from Amazon to earn its place among my best skirts ever. I first shared it with you back in March when I shared all the things I'd bought to freshen up my spring outfits. To quote myself from that post, "I am so glad I took the chance on ordering this skirt! It is perfect."

At the time of that post, I only owned the skirt in light blue, but I quickly made plans to add more colors to my closet. Now, I'm up to five of the solid color options: light blue, light pink, yellow, black, and white (to replace that viral white skirt from last year because it got irreparably stained).

If you know me, then you know that I don't typically buy the same thing in a bunch of different colors. I like variety in my closet, but these skirts are basically my dream skirt, and I just might end up buying every single color they offer before it's all said and done. There are seventeen different colors/prints, by the way.

So what makes this skirt so great that I would buy it in every available option? I would love to tell you.

The skirt is a cotton-linen blend, with a majority of the material being cotton (70 percent). That makes it so soft and very breathable -- two things that are non-negotiable for me all year long. The only part of the skirt that is not cotton or linen is the liner, which is polyester.

The skirt is a midi length, which is my preferred length. Keep in mind, however, that I'm only 5'2", so on me this length is closer to ankle length. On average-height people, the skirt hits around mid-calf. The skirt is an a-line cut, which is my favorite skirt style. It moves with me easily and is not restrictive at all. It has an elastic waistband with an adjustable drawstring. It has lace detailing at the hem, which is so feminine and pretty and adds just the right amount of fancy to what would otherwise be a pretty basic skirt.

I love that these skirts can be dressed up or down. I've worn them with blouses and t-shirts, sandals and mary janes, and even a sweater and lace-up boots. They're pretty much the exact blend of casual and dressy that I want in my outfits, especially for school. They're also machine washable, which is always a plus.

With the exception of the light blue, I haven't had these skirts very long. In fact, I haven't yet worn the white or black, and I've only worn the pink once so far. That means I don't have a ton of outfits to share with you, and the ones that I do have are blue skirt heavy, but keep reading to see how I've worn them so far. Each outfit is linked in my LTK Shop, or you can click the individual pictures.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothing and size 7 in shoes. I'm wearing this skirt in a medium.

4th of July Outfit Inspiration

I absolutely love the 4th of July. It might be my favorite family holiday of all time. I have so many good memories associated with this holiday, and I look forward to it every year.

This year, America is celebrating its 250th birthday! In honor of this major milestone in our country's history, the celebrations are sure to be bigger and better than ever. So should your outfit, whether you're grilling out, spending the day at the lake, or simply waiting for the fireworks.

There are so many good red, white, and blue options out there right now, especially at my two favorite places to shop, Old Navy and Target.

So without further ado, here are 25 of my favorite red, white, and blue pieces to help inspire your perfect 4th of July outfit.

This post is not sponsored, nor is it an ad, but it does contain affiliate links, which means if you choose to shop through this post, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Red Polka Dot Dress - I saw this gorgeous dress on my last Target trip and fell immediately in love. It would be perfect for a fancy picnic or barbeque. Also, you can wear it all year long.

Gingham Dress - This is a bit more casual than the previous dress. It is a red, white, and blue gingham pattern.

Striped Dress - I own and love this swing dress. It's very cute and casual, and the print feels very retro Americana.

Blue Striped Dress - I also own this dress, though I haven't worn it yet. It's a little less in your face patriotic, but I think it still works. It also comes in a blue checkered, chambray, and blue floral print that I think would work for this holiday, as well.

Red & White Floral Dress - This is a t-shirt dress, which I don't wear often, but this bright red-and-white print might change my mind. It also comes in a cute navy blue floral print, as well.

Plaid Shift Dress - This dress is absolutely adorable! I especially love the tie detail on the back straps. It also comes in a red, white, and blue striped that's really cute.

Striped T-Shirt Maxi Dress - This is a great option for those of you want to stay comfy and true to the holiday at the same time.

Blue Floral Dress - This is the same dress as the gingham from earlier in the list just in a different print.

Navy Blue Eyelet Dress - This dress is so cute. It's got these adorable bow ties going down the front and also comes in solid red and white. I always size up in this brand.

Plaid Cutout Back Dress - I tried this dress on in the store, but they didn't have the size I needed, otherwise this one would be in my closet.

Seaside Cotton Open-Weave Apron Tank - I love Old Navy's seaside cotton. It is so comfortable, and this style of tank top is really flattering. It's hard to tell in the picture, but it's got a flower design in the weave. This comes in solid red and white, as well as the navy blue.

Striped Lace-Up Tank - Is this top giving anybody else late 90s and early 2000s vibes? It makes me nostalgic for my childhood, and the red, white, and blue stripes make it perfect for the holiday.

Plaid Bubble Top - How cute is this blouse? It's a nice dressier option without feeling too stuffy. It also comes in a retro blue stripe and solid white.

Red Slide Sandals - This is kind of a classic slide sandal but in a nice patriotic red. It's one that you'll find yourself wearing over and over.

Snoopy USA Tee - Who doesn't love Snoopy? This t-shirt is oversized and a tunic length.

Scarf - I told y'all I want to be a scarf girlie. This one is perfect for the 4th of July but I think can also be worn pretty much anytime.

Mickey Mouse Tee - This tee is dated for this specific 250th celebration, but it's still really cute. I mean, it's Mickey Mouse!

White Handkerchief Halter Top - You can't go wrong with a bright white halter top, especially if you pair it with red bottoms. I have this exact one in my closet already and can confirm that it's nice quality. Also has a built-in bra.

American Classic Short-Sleeve Sweatshirt - I love a short-sleeve sweatshirt, especially if I'm inside in really cold air conditioning. This is one that I would wear all year long.

Party in the USA Graphic Tee - This is another dated tee, but it's still really cute. I love the hot dog holding hands with ketchup.

Red Floral Pull-On Shorts - These are super cute. They're also 100 percent cotton, which is always a win. They come in a blue floral print as well.

Plaid Linen Shorts - These are a bit dressed up compared to the previous pair, but they're still pull-on with an elastic waist. I really like the brightness of this plaid, too.

Red Striped Denim Skirt - This is another 100 percent cotton find. It is a mini length, though, which may not work for you. I like the faded look of the red in this one. I would probably size up to a 10 in this, both for length and to keep it from being too tight on my thighs.

Red Striped Tie Skirt - While this is still technically a mini skirt, I think it's a much more modest option for a red striped skirt. The tie detail at the sides is a nice touch, and I like that it's tiered. It's also 100 percent cotton, so that's a plus.

Red Floral Maxi Skirt - This skirt is the same pattern as the red floral pull-on shorts from above. So same concept, just a bit more dressed up. Plus can be worn to work through the rest of the year!

Reviews & Recs: What I Read Spring 2026

Spring is ending, which means it's time for a book roundup. This will be the second reading roundup of 2026 (not counting the brief post at the beginning of January reviewing the final books I read in 2025). So far this year I've read 47 books, including series rereads. That number includes books from two series that will not be included in today's post because I am currently in the middle of reading them.

Read my reviews for the first few months of the year in this post.

When I first started editing this post, I thought that the list was looking a little slim. But when I looked back on previous spring reading roundup posts just to kind of gauge where my reading habits stand these days, I realized that I actually read more this spring than in the last two years. Which is curious to me since I'm still just as busy in the spring months as I've always been. So what's changed? Am I doing a better job of curating reading lists? Am I getting more creative about how and when I read? I don't really know, but since we're on the subject, let's take a moment to see how I'm doing with my seasonal reading lists.

• Spring Reading List -- So far, I have read five out of the 10 titles that I shared. I am not currently reading any other titles from this list, but several of the remaining five titles are at the top of my queue.
• Winter Reading List -- I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've only read six of the 20 titles on this list. I am currently reading The Midnight Feast, but I have to admit that I'm struggling with this one and am on the verge of DNF'ing it. One of the other titles on this list, The Housewarming, is my August book club pick, so it's coming up.
• Fall 2025 Reading List -- This one is slightly better than the winter list, but I've still only read seven out of 20 titles.
• Summer 2025 Reading List -- I have read six of the 15 titles on last year's summer list. However, three titles are in this year's One Woman Book Club: Beyond the Moonlit Sea, Lightning in a Mason Jar, and Lullaby for Witches.

Sad to say, but my TBR lists for this year aren't looking so hot in terms of crossing off titles. I've crossed two off of my January list and one each off of my February and May lists. However, several of the books from those lists are including on the 2026 Summer Reading List, so be sure to check that out if you haven't already.

Back to the topic at hand. In today's post I'll be reviewing 19 books. Plus at the end of the post, I'll talk briefly about the three series that I began but decided not to finish for various reasons (those books are not pictured on the graphic). This collection of reviews dates back to about mid-March and includes everything I read in April and May. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the books I've read the last few months make it onto my best books list later this year. That means that the reviews for some of these books is a bit longer than I typically write in these review roundups. As always, I will try to make note of when and where spoilers are. Here we go!

Shifter City Fated Mates series

Author: Jaymin Eve

I had such high hopes for this series and had been waiting for it to be complete for awhile. I love Jaymin Eve as an author and have read many of her books in the past. This series, however, left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. I enjoyed the first three books, which is why I'm including this series in the reviews and not in the DNF section at the end, but I just could not get through the final book. I stopped reading about halfway through and just haven't had a desire to go back and finish it. Honestly, for me, the story felt complete at the end of the third book, and the reveal of the "secret" villain mastermind and a missing father felt forced and unnecessary to the storyline, and I just lost interest.

Journey of the Pharaohs

Author: Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

I've loved Clive Cussler's books since I was in middle school, and I think I've read (and loved) every single one of his Dirk Pitt adventure books. This was my first Kurt Austin novel, which exists inside the Dirk Pitt universe, so I had high expectations. I wasn't disappointed, but it also didn't live up to Dirk Pitt for me. I did enjoy the banter between Kurt and his partner, Joe, but it kind of felt like it was trying too hard to be Dirk and Al without being Dirk and Al, if you know what I mean. There will be a spoiler in the next paragraph, but I can't talk myself out of including it because it's pretty integral to my final thoughts.

This one, if you couldn't guess from the title, deals with missing Egyptian treasure. Specifically the treasure that was taken from a few dozen tombs in the Valley of the Kings by a self-professed pharaoh who disappeared from history. The theory is that he had his disciples load all the treasure onto boats and sailed across the world, eventually ending up in the Grand Canyon. An international arms dealer wants to find this lost treasure so that he can sell it off to fund his enterprise. Kurt and Al inadvertently get involved when they save the crew of a sinking ship that's carrying relics that will lead to the location of the treasure. They end up teaming up with an MI5 agent and follow the clues to a bunch of different places before finding their way back to the States where they eventually end up in a cave in the Grand Canyon that contains Egyptian artifacts...from a movie that was never finished. In contrast to every other Clive Cussler book I have ever read, they do not find the treasure.

Since all of Clive Cussler's books deal with actual history, I did a little research. What I found was that in 1909 a newspaper in Arizona published an article about an archeologist named G.E. Kinkaid who claimed he had discovered a cave in the Grand Canyon that contained evidence of Egyptian culture. Kinkaid reportedly said he joined a professor S.A. Jordon on an excavation that was sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution. Despite the validity of the article -- it exists -- the Smithsonian denies having any record of this ever happening, and in all the years since, no one has found this cave. So basically, this entire book was about a conspiracy theory. Hence my mixed feelings.

Boy Swallows Universe

Author: Trent Dalton

My March book club pick is the best so far, which is surprising to me since I don't usually enjoy memoirs. But this book was exceptional. It's not light and fluffy, though there were parts that made me laugh out loud. Instead of trying to rewrite my summary in a new way, I'm just going to quote it directly from my full review:

Eli Bell is 12-years-old when he realizes his stepfather, Lyle, is selling drugs for Tytus Broz. It's a pretty big blow for Eli since Lyle is his hero, the man he looks up to the most in the world. One night, Tytus Broz and his goons show up at Eli's house to take Lyle away, never to be seen again, and Eli's mother ends up going to prison on a made-up charge. Eli and his brother, August, have to go live with their dad, Robert, who's basically an alcoholic hermit due to his debilitating anxiety. Through it all, Eli has one consistent adult to lean on: Slim Halliday, an infamous criminal who holds the record for most successful prison escapes. Eventually, the story will come full circle, but it takes years before justice will be served.

The Teacher

Author: Frieda McFadden

This was my first book by this author, and I'll be honest. Whenever an author goes "viral," I always go into the reading with a dose of skepticism. I've been burned by other viral authors before, but this book hooked me from start to finish. It was so good! I especially liked the use of irony all throughout. I don't think there was a truly good character in this book at all. Morally gray at best. I will admit, that as a teacher, this one had some uncomfortable parts, but I think it would be pretty concerning for this book not to make a teacher uncomfortable. I'm not sure how to review this one without some spoilers, so if you don't want any, probably skip the next paragraph.

There are three main characters in this one: Eve, her husband Nathaniel, and their mutual student, Addie. Addie is the pariah of the school after a scandal involving her and another teacher, Mr. Tuttle, in which he was forced to resign. Mr. Tuttle was Eve's mentor. Both she and her husband are teachers; Eve teaches math, and Nathaniel is the beloved English teacher whom all the girls have crushes on. Addie is in both their classes. Where Eve is distrustful and harsh toward her, Nathaniel is encouraging and supportive. Meanwhile, Eve and Nathaniel are having marital problems. You can probably see where this is going... There are so many secrets and lies in this one, and one side character who seems unimportant until the very end. There are no true good guys in this one, though there is one decided villain.

Tell Me You Love Me and Crazy in Love (Love and War series)

Author: Emilia Finn

Y'all know I can't pass up a book by this author, and she has a new fighter series, so you know I'm all in. I read this one in one sitting, and I stayed up way too late doing it, but I don't regret it. Alanna Page left Plainview with no explanation a decade ago, but circumstances are calling her home where the love she left behind is still waiting. Except Alanna hasn't come back alone; she's brought her 10-year-old son home with her, and left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband. Now she's back living in the unhappy home she grew up in and trying to avoid Tommy Watkins at all costs. Except she can't. And she won't be able to keep the horrible details of why she left in the first place secret for much longer.

Book two is a continuation of book one but from the points of view of Tommy's twin brother, Chris, and Alana's best friend, Fox. Fox and Chris do not get along, mostly because Chris, who is on the spectrum, thrives on routine and Fox brings chaos. So of course they're going to be drawn to each other, right? Fair warning, this book is way spicier than the first book in the series.

I swear, each new thing I read by Emilia Finn is better than the last. Both of these had so much depth. She took some very tough, sensitive, serious topics and turned them into a beautiful story. If you've not read anything by her before, I cannot recommend her books enough. And you best believe I'll be reading every book in this series as it becomes available.

The London Seance Society

Author: Sarah Penner

This is a historical mystery set in 1873 in London when ghosts were all the rage. Lenna Wickes has sought out Vaudeline D'Allaire, a renowned spiritualist who helps grieving families find justice for their murdered loved ones, to learn the art of seance so that she can find closure over her sister Evie's death. Although she's naturally talented, Lenna spends most of the book doubting everything to do with seance. During her apprenticeship, Vaudeline is called back to London at the behest of a Mr. Morley to help solve the murder of the president of the London Seance Society, a gentlemen's club that has more secrets than anyone could imagine. Mr. Morley is the vice president of the club's seance department and was having a secret romance with Lenna's sister, who was using him to investigate the society's crimes. The culminating scene is a seance in which they plan to invoke the spirit of the club's president so that he can identify his killer (I feel like this isn't a spoiler since it's brought up very early on in the book and literally everything in the book is leading up to it).

I enjoyed this one, but it will definitely not be for everyone. This was my second book by Sarah Penner. I started with her debut novel, The Lost Apothecary, back in 2023, which was wildly popular and for good reason. Reviews for The London Seance Society are not as good, and I would agree with that. I didn't really feel all that invested in any of the main characters -- Lenna, the female lead, was hard for me to like at some points in the story -- and I wasn't really a fan of how the points of view swapped between first and third. I also agree with other reviewers that the pacing was a bit off. And I wish there had been more from Evie, as to me she was the more interesting character of the sisters.

There is quite a bit of history in The London Seance Society, which you'll know I'm always interested in diving into, so I recommend reading through the author's notes at the end of the book. Seances were en vogue in the late 1800s, with most mediums or spiritualists being women. Although the society in the book is fictionalized, there were organizations like it in Victorian England. The Ghost Club, founded in 1862, is the world's oldest paranormal investigation organization, and it is still in operation today.

The Forever Witch (The Coven: Vampire Witch series book 3)

Author: Chandelle LaVaun

This is the magic series that I've been reading for years, so this will be a brief review since I don't want to spoil a bunch of stuff. This is the fourth series in this saga that's all connected, so you have to read it in order from the beginning (The Lost Witch), otherwise you will be completely lost. I've been waiting for this book to drop for what seems like forever, so I was a little disappointed when I saw that it was only about half as long as I was expecting. But the author has had some personal problems recently, and she wanted to release something instead of nothing, and I appreciate having at least half of the story. So to give you a summary of what the entire saga is about, Lillith is rising from Hell to take over the Earth, and it's up to the Coven to defeat her. The Coven is made up of 21 witches, each representing one of the major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck. There's also demons and fallen angels, archangels and reincarnated angels, soulmates, fae, and time travel. They're gearing up for the final battle, which should be coming really soon.

The House at Mermaid's Cove

Author: Lindsay Jayne Ashford

My April book club pick proved why Lindsay Jayne Ashford is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Set during World War II, this story was based on actual SOE operations leading up to D-Day. The main character, Alice, becomes a part of a secret mission to smuggle spies and supplies into occupied France after she washes up on the shores of the Cornish estate serving as headquarters. I'm going to quote my full review a little bit:

If you're a fan of historical fiction and/or stories based on World War II, this book is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I have all the other Lindsay Jayne Ashford books I've read. She does historical fiction so well. If you've not added her to your TBR list yet, here's your sign to do so right away.

Guardians of the Veil (Cora Roberts series)

Author: Adaline Winters

I've been waiting on this series finale for what feels like forever! I read the first four books of the series back in 2024, so I'm not that far off really. And book four ended in a cliffhanger! So I've been sitting with this unresolved storyline for over a year, y'all. And I must say that it fell a little flat for me. After four books of action and drama, the conclusion felt almost too easy, although at the same time parts of it were very satisfying. I know; it's confusing. I think I was just expecting more. Here's a summary of the entire series: Cora's grandmother has released an ancient god of death in order to start a supernatural war with humans so that she can rule the world. It's up to Cora and her aunts along with members of the other supernatural factions, including Cora's uncle the devil and her father the angel of death (both heaven and hell represented), to stop her. There's also fated mates, a secret society, and lots of betrayal. I enjoyed the series overall, truly; I just felt like this last book didn't end with a bang like I was expecting it to.

Fourth Wing and Iron Flame (The Empyrean series)

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Fun fact - I went to college with this author. We weren't friends or really even acquaintances, but she was in at least one class with me.

Anyway -- how did I not know this series is unfinished?! I finally gave in to all the hype (which is well deserved by the way) only to discover that book four doesn't even have a release date yet! And there's a book five?! Y'all know how I feel about reading unfinished series. It's torture. So I made myself stop reading after book two since we all know that I'm going to have to reread the entire series when the final books drop. Whenever that is.

Violet has spent her entire life training to be a scribe, but her mother, the commander of the dragon rider academy, has other plans and forces her to enter the training center as a cadet. No one expects Violet to survive crossing the bridge to get in, much less surviving until the bonding. Then she does the impossible and bonds with not one but two dragons -- one of which is one of the most powerful dragons alive. To make things even more complicated, that dragon is mated to the dragon of her enemy, Xaden Riorsan, whose sentenced to the dragon rider academy for crimes committed by his father. Violet and Xaden's lives are now tied together, literally; if one dies, they all die. There's also a huge conspiracy about the ongoing conflict with the gryphons and a rebellion that's gaining ground right under everyone's noses.

This is a truly spectacular series so far, and I'm probably not going to be able to hold out on reading book three, which we all know is going to result in me being grumpy while I wait for the next book. Did I mention that it doesn't even have a release date yet? Not even a tentative one. Come on, Rebecca. Help a girl out!

This Story Might Save Your Life

Author: Tiffany Crum

I had never heard of this book before, but you can bet that if it's on the library's spotlight shelf, it's probably worth a look. And if you haven't noticed, I've been on a bit of a mystery, suspense kick lately. I make no apologies for this deviation from my normal fantasy and romantasy picks, which are starting to all kind of read like the same story with different dressings. But I digress. This book was exactly what I needed at the time I found it. I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it (especially if you liked None of This is True by Lisa Jewell).

Joy and her best friend, Benny, have a famous podcast, This Story Might Save Your Life, in which they share crazy scenarios that happened in real life and how to survive them. Business is good. They've taken their show on the road, are in talks for a syndication deal, and are co-writing a memoir. Life behind the scenes isn't all its cracked up to be, though. Joy, who suffers from narcolepsy, is in an abusive, manipulative marriage. She's told no one, not even Benny, how bad it is. Then one day out of the blue she and her husband, Xander, disappear. When Xander is found dead with Joy nowhere to be found, it doesn't take investigators long to turn their attention to Benny.

Blazing Inferno (Mated by Fire book 3)

Author: Katie May

I had to go back and reread the first two books of this series, which I read at the beginning of last year, before diving into book three. I've just seen that the next book is supposed to release this summer, although I can't find a title or a placeholder for it anywhere. I've also read that there are five books planned, but again I can't confirm it.

Here's a brief summary: The main character, Izzy, has been in the foster system for most of her life. Now, just before she ages out of the system, she's finally found one that fits. She soon learns that not only is the supernatural real, but she's part of it -- half witch, half shifter. Not only that, but she has multiple mates, one of whom still doesn't trust her three books in and another who has been cursed by a crazy stalker witch. There's also a power-hungry aunt who now knows of her existence, who may or may not be responsible for her mother's death, and who is forcing Izzy to attend witch school. Thankfully, one of her mates is also being forced to attend the school with her (although his sponsor is the brother of the witch who cursed her other mate), and one of the ruling triad is helping her out. She also learns who, and more importantly what, her fathers are. Hint: one of them is batshit crazy.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Author: Delia Owens

I finally caved to the pressure to read this book, and I already know that my opinion on it is going to be controversial, but I'm going to give it anyway. This book was just okay for me. Before you come at me, I didn't not enjoy it; there were just some things about it that bugged me. The one thing that really and truly drove me crazy was the way the author wrote the accents. I just could not get over it, and honestly I stumbled over them quite a bit. And I live in the South. I also couldn't wrap my head around the fact that an entire family just abandoned this little six-year-old girl, and then everybody who knew about her did nothing about it. Even the truancy officer just gave up. I know it was a different time back then, but still. She was six. It's a wonder she survived at all. Also, Chase Andrews's obsession with her was just weird in my opinion, and I felt like it was never adequately explained. It legitimately made no sense whatsoever that he would have been so hung up on this girl.

The one thing I did appreciate? The author really did a good job of capturing the inherent prejudices from well-to-do white people against poor white people. Not only did they stereotype and shun the protagonist, but they also refused to help a child who was obviously in need because she was "marsh trash." The fact that Kya was able to overcome all of that coupled with literally her entire family abandoning her plus being targeted by a predator such as Chase Andrews and then went on to become a well-respected naturalist, despite never going to school beyond one day, makes for an intriguing story, I must admit. Throw in the death/murder of the predator, and I understand how this is such a popular book and why it was made into a movie.

Call the Canaries Home

Author: Laura Barrow

My May book club pick was beautiful. It's very different from my normal read, but it's one that I absolutely recommend. Savannah and her sisters, Rayanne and Sue Ellen, return to their hometown of Muscadine, Louisiana, to dig up a time capsule they buried twenty-five years ago. In it they find a picture of Savannah and her twin sister, Georgia, from the day that Georgia went missing. Having never found closure, Savannah convinces her sisters to investigate this mysterious woman, leading them down a path that uncovers family secrets and brings the sisters back together. Read my full review here.

Now for the three series that I started but didn't finish for various reasons.

• Winter Solstice Mates series -- I read all of book 1 and part of book 2. The story itself was interesting, but there were so many editing issues with both of these books, particularly with the dialogue missing the speech tags and not being formatted properly. Those issues made it really difficult to read and some parts were just downright confusing, which was very disappointing considering all the 5-star reviews.
• Royals of Kingwood Academy series -- This is another series where I read all of the first book but only part of the second. Honestly, I find myself doing this with this particular author so many times. I don't know what it is about her writing that I just can't into, but I think I've only finished one series by her. Don't take my word for it, though. The reviews from others don't match my opinion even the slightest.
• Validus Vale Academy series -- I'll be honest; I don't remember anything about this one at all. I can tell you that I didn't even make it through book 1 though, so do with that what you will.