RECENT PURCHASES: JULY 2020

How the heck is it already July, basically almost August!? I cannot deny my online shopping addiction has gone rampant over the past few months. Am I the only one? Most definitely not, so I figured I would share my most recent purchases, which I will slowly be sharing on my Instagram stories as they come in! Soo happy to be back into blogging, and you can shop everything in this post through the images or by following me on the LikeToKnowIt App. 

AERIE

This haul is up on my stories when this post is up! AERIE is one of my all-time favorite brands, and they always have some sort of sale/deal going on. Definitely my go-to for activewear and loungewear where you cannot beat quality for the price. 

Sizing: Medium in everything, unless it comes in length options, then I got Medium Short

REVOLVE

I have a love-hate relationship with Revolve... everything is so expensive, but their shipping is SO FAST, like faster than Amazon sometimes. Hack: Revolve Beauty houses so many amazing brands and is the perfect option when you need something fast. I purchased my first pair of Levi's from them in the fall and fell in love, and as I have had my eye on the denim bermuda trend for while, I caved! The brand Korres, is a personal favorite, even better they are a Greek company with all products produced in Greece, which we love. I am obsessed with their overnight facial moisturizer and decided to give their day-time mattifying one a try! 

Sizing: 29 in the shorts -- hoping they are a little loose and comfortable!

TULA

One of my favorite bloggers released her collab with Tula recently and I couldn't help but support! This is a dark-circle treatment with blue-light blocking and all the GLOW, the little size makes it perfect to fit in your inner corner and the color neutralizes dark circles. 

Hack: If you are a student you can get 20% off at checkout by logging into ID.ME with your student email! 

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH

A&F has made its COMEBACK the past few years. They have comfortable and stylish basics while still being an affordable price. They are always doing 15-20% off! My favorite every day tanks are from here, so I ordered another nude one, an adorable bikini top, and a leopard cardigan (couldn't resist). 

Sizing: Medium in everything, but sometimes it is better to SIZE UP in AF! I will update you on how everything fits. 

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Back in June I ordered some new graphic tees and a cropped tank, Urban has some of the coolest and softest graphic tees! They are all mostly oversized, which is the look we all know we love the best. The moon-shine tee is one of my absolute favorites, and I am still waiting for the floral tee because it has been backordered for so long! 

Sizing: One size or S/M in tees, Medium in cropped tank

Honestly go you if you made it through this whole post! I will share photos/outfits/try-on videos of everything as it comes in on my Instagram. Let me know if you like these recent purchases posts, I would love to start making them a monthly post on the blog! 

xx,

Jojo

MY FAVORITE QUARANTINE RECIPES

Photo by: Half Baked Harvest

I love cooking SO much, on just a regular day, but during quarantine I have been experimenting more than ever! Plus, if I am in the kitchen I definitely have Food Network on, so I am always getting inspo.

My all-time favorite place to get recipes from is Half Baked Harvest. I am obsessed with Tieghan, and she does daily tutorials on her Instagram stories of whatever she is making! Most of the time, she will post a recipe and then I will make it, lol, or I will scour her sight for whatever I am in the mood for.

The top recipes I have made from her (that are a fan fav with my whole fam) are:

• Cheesy Lemon Zucchini Orzo
• This was SO good. I was basically licking the bowl, but I am also a huge lemon gal. We are big lovers of orzo in our house and this recipe is like orzo risotto, and I was able to use coconut milk which I love! 
• Salted Caramel Pretzel Snickerdoodles
• I made these at Christmas and my fam still talks about them. These are probably some of the best snickerdoodles I have ever had, and I am a huge proponent for pretzels in cookies!
• 5 Ingredient Beer Bread
• I have made this 3 times already during quarantine and each time, it lasts maybe a day. This bread is unreal. If you make anything - MAKE THIS! It is SO EASY, seriously one bowl, no fuss, 5 ingredients. 
• Crispy Persian Rice
• The crispy rice is delicious, but a little too oily for my taste. I am going to try to make this again with less oil/butter and probably add Sriracha, because everything is better spicy IMO. 

One of the best parts of Tieghan's recipes is that they are easy to modify to your needs/what's in your fridge. She is always offering substitutions on Instagram right after she bakes something, which I love since I am lactose intolerant! I have her cookbook at my house in Columbia, and am itching to get back to make something from it. 

If I am not cooking something from HBH, I either make up my own recipes, or find some from Instagram/Pinterest! I have made lemon blueberry muffins, easy shakshuka (so SO tasty), kale salads, Italian margaritas, ginger soy glazed salmon, and a lot of greek potatoes. 

Every day I swear all I do is look forward to dinner... anyone else!? Currently, it is Holy Week for Orthodox Christians so we are fasting, aka no meat, and I have been getting really creative with recipes! I cannot stop thinking about the lamb on Sunday though lol. 

Let me know if y'all like this little segment and if you would like me to share more food and recipe content! Comment below your favorite meal you've made during quarantine.

HOW I AM SPENDING MY TIME DURING QUARANTINE

Quarantine has been, not that bad... it really just feels like I am home for break from school, except I am never going back to school! Crazy, right? Days are going by slow, but weeks going by fast. I cannot believe April is already half way over! I will definitely be sharing some April favorites at the end of this month, but for now, here's what's been going on during quarantine for lil' ol' me...

HOW I'M FEELING AS A COLLEGE SENIOR DURING COVID

Ah... Who else still feels like they are trapped in an alternate universe desperately trying to find a way out? That's how I feel.

This is definitely one of the most insane times in my life, surprisingly I feel as if I've dealt with worse in terms of my personal issues and mental health, but this is affecting every single one of us. Every person on Earth is affected in some way, which blows my mind. And every single persons feelings toward this situation are valid. Some are losing loved ones, some are losing jobs, and others are losing experiences.

This time has caused so much anxiety and heartbreak in my life. The unexpected has occurred and I emotionally did not know how to handle how I was feeling. I think we are all aware now that most of us are grieving, and personally, I have never grieved before. I am grieving the opportunity I prayed for years for and earned after college being cancelled. Me and every other college senior got their senior year taken from them with no questions asked. It is a strange feeling, and for a while I did not let myself be sad, but it is heartbreaking. None of us could have never imagined any of this...

I didn't get to attend my senior year formal, the spring tailgate, receive my senior superlative, celebrate accomplishments with my closest friends, have one last night singing Sweet Caroline (that we definitely wouldn't remember), late night cookout run, my final times in a classroom, one last meal in the sorority house, or visit my freshman dorm.

It may seem like nothing, but we don't get those final memories. The final memories with friends we may not see anytime soon, which is difficult to accept and understand. We are left with no closure, and constant wonder.

But now, all we have is memories. Memories to reflect on, to cherish, to share. And all we have is hope. Hope this will all end soon, and hope we will fill those voids eventually.

So, if you are a college senior, let's blast Closer by The Chainsmokers and look back on Freshman year, then Sophomore, then Junior, then Senior year...

I promise it will bring you joy during this tough time.

PS: I am going to write a whole reflection on my Carolina experience soon. ♥