*I received hair accessories from Headbands of Hope in exchange for inclusion in a blog post. All opinions are my own.

Hair is such an important piece of style. If my hair looks pretty good, then I feel pretty good. But I'm also incredibly lazy and low maintenance. So I wanted to share three super low maintenance summer hairstyles, complete with the perfect hair accessories. I'm a big fan of updos in the summer because I hate how hot and sweaty I get, and my hair just looks, um, disgusting. So these are the perfect if your hair is also easily a mess in the summer.

Big bun with headband

This is highest maintenance of the three. All you need is a bun donut (or sock, if you've got the sock bun thing down pat), some bobby pins, and a super cute headband. If you've never rolled your hair into a bun, it takes a little practice but is actually pretty easy. 

For the bun, I part my hair down the center so my bangs are free in the front, and then put the rest of my hair into a very high ponytail. (If you don't have bangs, you can still part some hair in the front and pin the sides for a bit of a faux-bangs look!)

Then you take a donut bun and put it over the ponytail and place it at the base of your ponytail where it meets the skull. From there, pull the donut up to almost the tip of the ponytail. Start rolling the bun down while pressing the ends of the ponytail up and around the donut until you've got a big ol' bun. Then use bobby pins to keep it in place. Place the headband on your head, and you're good to go. I love this Hear Me Roar blushing braid headband. And it comes in different prints!

This look is the dressier of the three and is perfect for summer weddings!

Curly high-pony with a scarf scrunchie

This one is pretty low maintenance. All it takes is a moment to brush out your hair and put it up into a very high ponytail. Use a decorative scarf scrunchie to tie your hair up - this Hear Me Roar darling scrunchie is perfect! You're good to go.  

This look is perfect for working out or active days!

Piggy braids and bucket hat

Okay, I love this look. When I'm outside for prolonged periods of time, I really love a bucket hat. I usually wear one when I'm out doing yard work, and I think this look is also perfect for beach days. Part your hair evenly down the middle, braid both sections, and toss on a bucket hat. Your hair is going to get gross at the beach (or in the pool) anyways, so this just keeps it out of the way and untangled. Plus a bucket hat is perfect if your hair is needing a wash. This Blue Wash bucket hat is so cute with "stay kind" embroidered across the front.

This one is best for outdoor days by the water.

All three of these fun hair accessories are from Headbands of Hope, so not only are they fashionable, but they're also good for folks. How, you ask? For every single item sold from Headbands of Hope, a hair accessory is donated to a sick child. Many companies donate hats and wigs, but Headbands of Hope were the first to donate headbands. It's a wonderful cause, and their hair accessories are so cute. Plus they even have a special program where the kids of design their own headbands. They also donate a portion of profits to charities.

TW: Sexual Assault, gaslighting, child abuse, graphic animal cruelty/animal death, graphic description of dead child, self-harm/suicide, eating disorders/body hatred/fatphobia, violence, kidnapping/abduction, death/dying, blood/gore, drug usage/drug abuse, racism, sexism/misogyny, classism



I first heard of Grady Hendrix when The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires was released, and boyo, how had I never heard of him before. His books are quirky, often southern, and this wonderful mix of horror and comedy. It’s like he took all the best parts of 80s horror movies and made them a bit scarier and more intentionally funny. This was my second time reading a book by him, and I have been on the hunt for all the others. I will now read literally anything he writes (I’m truly sure that there must be a cult following). My Best Friend’s Exorcism is optioned for film and has already started releasing casting information. I urge you to read the book first!


Back cover synopsis: The year is 1988. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to act…different. She’s moody. She’s irritable. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she’s nearby. Abby’s investigation leads her to some startling discoveries—and by the time their story reaches its terrifying conclusion, the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single question: Is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil?


Keep in mind though that Hendrix’s brand of horror can be blasphemous (like this book certainly is at times, and is often the case in exorcism-related pop culture), and can be graphic. But can you truly resist classic horror themes written for modern day but in a southern 80s setting? And his stories have some social commentary too. They tend to bring to light some of the problematic issues of the 80s/90s, but not in a way that makes it a major part of the story. They’re still horror novels, but there are sometimes little comments or scenes that make you think “damn, it really was like that.” While I’m not sure if this book would be considered YA because some of the content, the main characters are teenagers. It’s like Jennifer’s Body meets Mean Girls but set in the 80s and full of pop culture references. It’s haunting and gruesome at times, but it’s a mix of being a story about friendship and trauma. It’s about overcoming demons (literally and figuratively), and about never giving up on yourself or the people you love. But it's also about class and privilege, the harms of gaslighting, and how society tends to ignore teenage girls.






I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and engaging but also really horrifying at times. Grady Hendrix is such a fantastic storyteller that brings flawed (and often stereotypical) characters into haunting storylines. My Best Friend's Exorcism is a love letter to southern literature, cult horror, and 80s pop culture.




Goodreads rating: ★★★★☆

 

I say this every single time that I read/review short stories, but I’m not usually a short stories type of girl. But it seems they’ve been growing on me. I particularly enjoyed The Office of Historical Corrections, which focused on women’s experiences, particularly women of color. Each story is raw and beautifully developed. You’ve got enough time to really get the grasp of the characters, but what’s so alluring about these stories is the examination of the human condition.


Back cover synopsis: Danielle Evans is widely acclaimed for her blisteringly smart voice and X-ray insights into complex human relationships. With The Office of Historical Corrections, Evans zooms in on particular moments and relationships in her characters’ lives in a way that allows them to speak to larger issues of race, culture, and history. She introduces us to Black and multiracial characters who are experiencing the universal confusions of lust and love, and getting walloped by grief—all while exploring how history haunts us, personally and collectively. Ultimately, she provokes us to think about the truths of American history—about who gets to tell them, and the cost of setting the record straight.
In “Boys Go to Jupiter,” a white college student tries to reinvent herself after a photo of her in a Confederate-flag bikini goes viral. In “Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain,” a photojournalist is forced to confront her own losses while attending an old friend’s unexpectedly dramatic wedding. And in the eye-opening title novella, a black scholar from Washington, DC, is drawn into a complex historical mystery that spans generations and puts her job, her love life, and her oldest friendship at risk.


While I actually enjoyed all of the stories fairly equally, I really enjoyed “Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain.” I think it really spoke to how women can not exactly like each other but can still support each other which is so crucial in a society that often pits women against each other.

The last story of the book is the titular story, which is less of a short story and more of a novella. And it’s a beautiful tale of how history has been so rewritten to whitewash, how the history we are taught is very much that of the revisionist. It’s a story about finding truth and understanding is what has long been hidden.






I loved this book. I loved these stories. And while I don’t often reread, I could absolutely see myself rereading these stories.




Goodreads rating: ★★★★★

*Thanks to Nakie for sending me my new hammock free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know if it's the pandemic, the buying of a house, the living five minutes from a state park, or maybe a combination of all three, but outdoor adventure has become such a wonderful joy in my life. 

I've bought my annual state park pass, which allows me access to any state park in Georgia without having to pay the typical $5 parking fee. I'm a proud owner of a shady hat and hiking boots. I've got not just one, but two Nalgene bottles. And most recently, thanks to Nakie, I've added a hammock to that collection of my outdoorsy supplies.

In our backyard, we have a fairly small yard, but the woods behind our house extend a bit further. They're not too dense and are perfect for a nice, cool place to spend time. Over the past few months, I've been building out a trail in the woods. So far, I've cleared out a trail and laid the weed control mat. Next up, I'll be covering the mat with mulch. Eventually, I would love to add solar-powered trail lights, some additional plants, stone markers, more seating, and maybe a small fire pit. 

For now, I've figured out how to strap up the hammock and chill between the trees just enjoying nature, resting, and reading. It's been so wonderful and so much cooler than not in the shade of the trees. (That Georgia heat, I'm telling you!)

I've wanted a hammock for such a long time, but I've always been so afraid that a hammock would not hold my body weight. I never wanted to just fall to the ground and break myself. But Nakie hammocks hold over 400 pounds, so I felt safe trying it out. But I actually had no idea what I was doing when I hung the hammock for the first time. I set it up so that when I was sitting in it, it was about a foot from the ground. I got used to that and then I moved it up quite a bit higher so I could really just hang. It was so lovely. 

And I've really enjoyed the Nakie hammock so much. It's made of recycled plastic bottles (much like some of my other favorite brands). I love the sustainability of turning trash that's destroying our oceans and our planet into new, functional products. It's the only hammock made from 100% recycled materials and eliminates 37 plastic water bottles for each hammock produced. Plus, for every hammock purchased, four trees are planted at a reserve in Madagascar that support local villagers. As mentioned, I also really love that the weight limit is more inclusive than a lot of other hammocks I've looked at. It really just makes me feel safer as a fat person trying to enjoy the outdoors.

The hammock, like many other sports hammocks (not fashion hammocks), folds up compactly into a pouch that's actually attached to the hammock itself. And that pouch is perfect to store your phone, a water bottle, or a book when you're actually using the hammock. Now I'm sure that's not its intended use, but it's worked lovely for me! Nakie even sells rain tarps and bug nets that are perfect for protecting you from the elements. The bug net is definitely next on my list, because the Georgia mosquitos have been eating me alive!

What's next for my outdoor adventures? I'd love a kayak to use at our local state park where the Chattahoochee runs through.

Are you outdoorsy? What's your favorite outdoor activity?