I revived favorites posts last month and I have to admit how excited I was to jump into this post today. I'm glad I don't pump out favorite posts weekly (that's a little too much for me) but I love talking about things I'm loving recently and what you are loving too!

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Before I jump in, I started a new Instagram series showcasing some of my writing. More information below (my favorite moment!).

Beauty Product: LA Girl Matte Pigment Lip Gloss

The name's a little long, but the product - the product is dy-no-mite! Seriously, I am so in love with this matte gloss. I personally have the shades "Timeless" and "Secret", but every single one of these colors are gorgeous. It's a relatively new product so it may be sold out at your local beauty store, but it's available online here and here. 

Moment: "I Feel Infinite" IG Prose

It just started today, but as it was an idea born in April, it counts! I talk a lot about embracing my identity as a writer. And every now and then I tell you about participating in NaNoWriMo or writing a short story, but I don't put my writing out there daily (aside from my stream of thought scribblings in blog posts). And although I'm really scared to, I know I have to, that it's the only way to really know if my writing connects with people.

I've seen a lot of poets who post their pieces (or pieces of pieces) on Instagram and have built a community of poets and writers who support each other's work. Like most writers, I so want that! Being a writer can be lonely because you can't really share your work with others until it's complete, which can be months, years even. But I want to connect with other writers and people who like my work sooner.

So I've decided to start posting my shorter prose on my Instagram at least once a day. I've titled the series "I Feel Infinite", borrowing the infamous phrase from Stephen Chobsky's Perks of Being Wallflower, because Charlie <3 You can read more about all that here, and check out my first post at 1 p.m. today! Eeep!

Book: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

This was a really hard choice. I've read a few great novels this month, including the book I'm reviewing for Skylights on Monday, A Thousand Pieces of You. But My Life Next Door was just everything I needed it to be. It follows the story of Samantha, an overprotected, seventeen year-old girl during the summer before her senior year, and the day she finally meets the boy next door, a member of the dreaded "Garretts". I expected it to be a good cute romantic contemporary, but I didn't expect the depth and the phenomenal characters. I have so many thoughts about this, all of which I'll talk about later in a review, but just go, go read it. You will absolutely love it! Need more convincing? This line sums up my love for the book:

George gives me a smile, the same dazzling sweet smile as his big brother, although at this point, with green teeth. "I might marry you," he allows. "Do you want a big family?"

I start to cough and feel a hand pat my back.

"George, it's usually better to discuss this kind of thing with your pants on." Jase drops the boxer shorts at George's feet...

 Also, I kinda squealed when I discover there's a companion novel releasing this summer! Say what? I'm in there.

Song: 

"Chiromancer" by Copeland; "Trap Queen" by Fetti Wap

The stark difference between these two songs is both hilarious and a bit weird. How am I equally obsessed with songs that are so different? Nevertheless, I am. Copeland's track is perfect for thinking (as are so many of their songs) so I play it mostly when I'm writing or walking at night. To me, something about it feels kinda epic. I know that's weird, but hey, I said it. Now, Trap Queen? Trap Queen is faarrr from epic LOL. But it's got a bomb ass beat and makes me want to move. And it would kinda bring out the ratchet in me, if I had any, which I don't, of course :)

Celebrity: Meghan Rienks

She's not actually a celebrity because she's a YouTuber, but really, I don't doubt that she'll reach true celebrity status very soon. Her videos really brighten my day because her personality is so fun and sassy and she's hilarious without really trying to be. She's also gorgeous but almost oblivious to it, so it makes her personality shine even more. Check out her videos here and here.

Laugh: "It's Gonna Be May!"

Well, technically it's already May, but every year this meme cracks me up! This song is still the jam, too.

What are some of your April favorites?

April's Monthly Goals

I probably should have done this post a week ago, but alas, I had no idea I even wanted to do such a post until like two days ago, when I saw it on other blogs (one being The Drea Daily). Eeep! Still, it's only a week in and it's always a good time to set new goals. Right? Right.

+ Lose some real weight - I know, I know. Fitness is about the way you feel, the confidence in wearing your clothes, the health of your body. And I'm not diminishing any of that. But truly, I need to lose some el beessss. Point, blank, period.

+ Read Notes from Underground by Dostoevsky - It's pretty heavy stuff, but I've been wanting to pick it up again for a while now. I read portions of it years ago for a presentation in law school, but as those were more stressful times, I want to read it in its entirety now. It's dense but it really isn't that long. And if I can read upteen books about shadowhunters, assassins and mal-adjusted teenagers, I can find time to read this.

+ Complete a few projects - One of my biggest bad habits as a kid was being a dreamer not a doer. I'd think up all these bright ideas and embark on new things and then somewhere in the middle I'd lose steam. As I've grown older, this has changed, but recently, I feel like I'm five again, getting all excited about my shiny new toy at the store and then forgetting where I've stashed it.

+ Finish the first draft of my novel - Considering that April is Camp NaNoWriMo and I'm suppose to be participating in Camp NaNo, this should be a given, but it's 10 days in and I have yet to write a single word, so... clearly, it needs to be said. My original deadline for D1 was the new year, which clearly has been pushed back multiple times. But if I have any chance of meeting my own self-imposed "done" date, I need to be through D2 by the end of June :\  

+Comment on blogs - I'm sure you've noticed, but for the past month or so, I've been complete shit at commenting on other people's blogs. Everyday I set out with the goal in mind and then I get stuck doing other things and I'm falling asleep vowing to do it tomorrow. I still love you all, I swear!

Got any goals for the month? Feeling inspired to set a few goals of your own? Join me in linking up with Drea!