Maxasorb Melatonin Cream Review

Hi out there! I can't believe it's already the last day of April. I've said this before, but this year is just FLYING by so far! There has been so much to do in so little time thus far, and it's been leaving me just short of exhausted. I am a fairly light sleeper and picky about my sleeping conditions- so between hosting guests and traveling, I've slipped into a serious sleep debt to my body. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to try out Vita Sciences Maxasorb Melatonin Cream just in time!

 Melatonin is a chemical that we naturally produce which regulates our sleep cycle. I don't have a deficiency that I'm aware of, but I definitely have a harder time falling asleep in the past few years that I ever have before. I've seen melatonin capsules at the pharmacy before, but have been weary about taking sleeping supplements. I am a bad sleeper anyways, and didn't want to become dependent on a pill just to fall asleep. Many of the supplements contain other chemicals as well, and I'm not one to just fill myself with unnecessary chemicals and hope that they help. I was so intrigued by the idea of a melatonin cream, I couldn't wait to try it!

It is so easy to use- I rub one pump of the creamy lotion on my legs before I crawl into bed on nights when I need a little help falling asleep. No matter how tired I am when I get into bed, I seem to do the same song and dance that prolongs my sleep every night. I normally toss and turn around in my bed for a while before getting comfortable. Once I'm finally settled in, it takes me additional time to shut my brain down from the day and relax into sleep. When I use my Maxasorb Melatonin Cream, I significantly reduce the amount of time between snuggling in and falling asleep. It's been amazing for me! I've noticed that when I have more restful sleep, it's easier for me to get up in the morning to start my day. Any changes in the morning are huge for me, as I'm not exactly a morning person as it is (read more about my morning routine here).

I honestly was a little skeptical about a topical melatonin treatment, but am so glad that I decided to give it a try. I don't feel dependent on it at all and am happy with the results when I use it. The lotion is smooth without leaving your skin greasy and is odorless, making it easy to use before bed. Here's to many more restful nights! Interested in getting some for yourself? Check out Vita Sciences website here.

Have you used any melatonin products? Do you have any secrets for falling asleep quickly?

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Vita Sciences via Brandbacker to review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.

Writer Wednesday Interview!

Good morning! I am thrilled to share with y'all an interview about me over on Not Intent on Arriving! Kristen's blog is an easy, fun read and she does a weekly Writer Wednesday post that features interviews of other bloggers. It's a great way to learn about new-to-you bloggers and it's always fun to get to know the person behind the blog a little better. This was my first interview, and I'm really excited for y'all to get to know me a little better. Please stop by and let me know what you think!

My Lilly New Arrivals Wish List

Hello hello! This warm weather we've had lately has created visions of flip flops and bikinis dancing in my head. I absolutely love getting new items for my summer wardrobe! I went through the new arrivals section of the Lilly Pulitzer and am even more excited to do some summer shopping. Here are my favorites from the Lilly new arrivals section!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

1 Elsa Top. I am a huge fan of Lilly's Elsa tops. I currently only have 2, but look forward to expanding my collection. These silk blouses are amazing- they can be dressed up or down depending on the rest of your outfit and are PERFECT for work. I would love to add this bright one to my collection.

2 Sundress. Yellow has always reminded me of summer, and this dress is no exception. I love the sunny print and the fit looks amazing. The A-line shape would flatter so many different figures and truly is a home run!

3 Cover Up. Every girl needs a cute bathing suit cover up for those beach or pool days sure to happen over the summer! I love the detailing at the bottom and the flowy, laid-back vibe just screams vacation!

4 Cut-out Shift. I am typically not a fan of cut-outs on my dresses. This is a very tasteful take on the cut-out trend, and I love the whole dress!

5 Sandals. Gold is still so on trend this season! These are a gorgeous dressy flip flop, and I would wear them all the time if they were in my closet!

6 T-shirt Dress. Y'all, I am and forever will be a sucker for all things navy! This casual dress is a perfect option for vacation, work, or running around! I know that I would find any excuse to throw this pretty on if it was mine!

What are your favorite new arrivals? Do you have any must-have pieces for summer?

My Lilly for Target Experience

Hi readers! I hope you've been having a great week so far. Mine has been wild so far, but nothing compares to the wildness that I saw this weekend at the Lilly for Target launch.

That's right, y'all- I was one of the crazies who got up to do the launch in person! I went to a wedding on Saturday night and was leaving on Sunday to head back to VA, so I wanted to get some sleep and couldn't stalk the online launch. When I woke up to head to Target, I was hoping to pick up a few of my online only picks. I quickly discovered that they were all sold out. At 7 AM. 7!!!! I still can't believe that. That just solidified my mindset when heading into the store that I had to be strategic if I wanted to get any of my top picks!

My mom, sister, and I met at our local Target at 7:30 and were the second group in line. It was a rainy, chatty wait as everyone discussed their surprise at the online sell out and their wishlist for inside the store. They opened the doors promptly at 8, however we received a lecture beforehand about wet floors and where the different items would be located to help minimize frantic behavior.

When the doors opened, carts were grabbed and people began RUNNING towards the racks. We planned to go straight to the clothing and I just went for the prints that I loved online. I was able to get several dresses in my size and prayed that they fit. I kid you not, the racks were completely cleared within 5 minutes. I wasn't even able to make it to any other section before all of the goodies were snatched up. We gathered in the outdoor section to sort through our finds- we didn't want to hoard anything we weren't seriously considering purchasing in hopes that others would be able to enjoy them. We put back a few things that were grabbed in the wrong size and headed to the fitting rooms. Women were crowded around the fitting rooms waiting for people to discard their items. They were snatched up so quickly. The crazy thing was that people stopped discarding their items. Unwanted items were held onto and traded for others that were desired. How nuts is that! I seriously couldn't believe the tense energy within the Target.

I walked out with a nail polish, a bathing suit, three dresses, and a pair of shorts. Only two of which I intended to purchase, but I fell in love in the fitting room with items off of my list! I am hoping to pick up a few of my wants in returns (although I highly doubt any returns will happen), but I refuse to go pay a higher price on Ebay. I don't mean to get on a soapbox, but I think those mark-ups are ABSURD. If you wanted to pay $100 for a Lilly dress, go to their retail store and buy one made to be $100. I think that the prints for the Lilly for Target collection are beautiful but the way that they are able cut costs to sell them so cheaply is to make them with cheaper materials. You would not pay a 3x price gauge for a dress that didn't have Lilly on the tag, so just don't. Treat yourself to a dress worth your money. End rant.

Here are a few photos of my picks from shopping on Sunday!

Look familiar from Instagram? This was one of my must haves!

This was my other must have that I got- so happy to have snagged it!

Did you brave the lines on Sunday? Did you get any items from the collection? What are your thoughts on the Ebay situation?

Current Coffee Table Books

Happy Tuesday, y'all! I'm so sorry that things were quiet around here last week- I took a long weekend off from work to head back to GA. I haven't been home since December, so I wanted to be fully present with my family and decided to stay off the blog. It was an absolutely perfect weekend at home except for the fact that it rained the entire time that I was there!! Regardless, I had a great time with my family and that's what matters. My sister, mom, and I woke up early on Sunday to go to our local Target to shop the Lilly collection. Check out my Instagram for one of my favorites and look out for a post detailing my experience in the near future!

Lately, I've been in a rut with my apartment. I've lived here for a year and still feel like I have SO much decorating to do! This is my first adult apartment (not at school or with a roommate) so I have been building my decor basically from scratch. It's been a lengthy and expensive process, but I think things are finally coming together. I have the majority of the big furniture pieces purchased and am working on the decor aspect. About 3 weeks ago I started looking for some books for my coffee table. I see cute ideas on Pinterest and Instagram but wanted to find the right mix for me instead of just copying someone else's ideas.

I started looking on Amazon and honestly didn't know what I was looking for. I knew I wanted to get multiple books, in different colors, about different topics, and have them from from different authors. Pretty broad search, no? For me, coffee table books need to be pretty but also serve their purpose to entertain guests if needed. I decided on 3 different topics: food, travel, and decor. That way- no matter who sat down on my couch- they could find something interesting to look at. After many hours of browsing, I found my 3 perfect coffee table books!

Edible French: Tasty Expressions and Cultural Bites
Domino: The Book of Decorating
The New York Times: 36 Hours USA & Canada

I still haven't quite figured out how I'm going to arrange them on the table, but here's what I have decided on right now.  Let me know what y'all think!

What are your favorite coffee table books?

Weekend Recap

Happy Tuesday, y'all! I hope it was a wonderful weekend wherever you spent it! Did anyone treat themselves to breakfast in bed this weekend? Send me your photos if you did! As I mentioned, I had some friends visiting for the weekend and we just had the best time. It's always so refreshing to see good friends that you haven't seen in a while. I had a great time showing them around DC!

On Friday, we had dinner at Flight- a wine bar downtown. We did a mix of small plates and flights of wine. I did the "Sailing on the Mediterranean" flight and absolutely loved it. I would absolutely get it again if I went back! The food was delicious and beautiful! After our dinner we headed over to U Street and popped around for the evening.

On Saturday, we had tickets to do a Cherry Blossom boat tour. That's actually been on my list since last year's festival, and I'm so glad my friends were here to share it with me! It was pretty windy out on the river- which made for a cold ride- but I was able to get some pretty shots. After the boat tour we headed over to the Mall to walk around the Tidal Basin and see the trees up close and personal. It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day and I loved the whole experience. It was a long day with a ton of walking, but I am so glad we did everything that we did.

On Sunday, we went to Ambar for brunch. So far, that's got to be one of my favorite brunch spots in the city. The atmosphere is so fun and the food is incredible (the poached pear waffle is a must, see above). It's right over by the Eastern Market- so it's situated in the perfect spot for pre- or post-brunch shopping. We were able to do a little browsing before we ate and I got the prettiest little bracelet! The shop had jewelry created from vintage watch pieces and I fell in love with this bracelet as soon as I laid eyes on it. I've already worn it once and am sure it won't be the last time. After brunch, we made a pit stop at the White House and then headed to the airport to say our goodbyes. All-in-all it was a wonderful weekend.

I don't know about y'all, but I find hosting exhausting. Sunday night I cleaned up my place and practically fell into a coma as soon as I laid down on my bed. As tired as I was, it was a great weekend and I wouldn't trade my memories for any amount of sleep!

What did you do this weekend? Do you have any tricks to lower the pressure of hosting guests?

10 Breakfast in Bed Ideas

TGIF, y'all! I am so happy that it is the end of the week. Dating back to my first few weeks in the workforce, I truly understand working for the weekend. It's real. This weekend I am lucky enough to have a friend come up to visit! We are going to be praying for good weather and sight-seeing for the next 2 days. If you are having a slower-paced weekend (which let's be real, that's what they are for!) I hope you indulge and take your relaxation to the fullest! One of the ways I love to treat myself is by making my breakfast and bringing it back to enjoy in my bed. If you follow along on Instagram, you've seen a few shots depicting this in the last few months. I definitely like to incorporate an indulgent breakfast in bed as often as I can!

Let me just plug this in at the beginning- I really don't like eating in bed. I hate having crumbs or spills on my crisp white sheets. It makes me shudder to even think about it! One of the ways I get around that fear is utilizing a serving tray. It helps to corral everything and gives you a stable eating surface! I love it.

Ready to hop on board? Here are 10 ideas for y'all to get a perfect (and clean!) breakfast in bed going this weekend.

1. Scones and fruit (pictured above!)
2. Bagel and cream cheese/peanut butter/jam
3. Oatmeal topped with fruit preserves
4. Breakfast casserole (I want to try this recipe)
5. Yogurt, granola, and fruit
6. Scrambled eggs and bacon
7. Omlette (this recipe sounds delish)
8. Cereal and milk
9. French Toast (my go-to recipe)
10. Donuts (these sound amazing)

Just add coffee and you have a perfect breakfast to fuel your weekend. Enjoy!

What's your go-to breakfast in bed recipe? What do you do to pamper yourself and relax on the weekends?

Easy Mini Pizza Bagels

Hi readers! Today I want to share with you an easy recipe for mini pizza bagels.

This was my first time making them at home, but my inspiration dates back to my days at Georgia Tech. I studied biochemistry in college and our major building was located in a beautiful quad with the other sciences. Nestled in this quad was an Einstein Bro. Bagels that was filled with studying students from open to close. It had a line EVERY time you went in, any hour, and served up the best study snacks as well as piping hot coffee. Due to the long lines, I rarely wanted to drop in before class so this was a place reserved for serious study sessions. One day, I met a sorority sister to study here over coffee and snacks before a big midterm test. She suggested that we get the pizza bagels, an item not typically on the Einstein menus. Long story short, I fell in love with the crunchy cheesy goodness that was a pepperoni pizza bagel.

I thought it would be a fun (and delicious) recipe to re-create! Also, the finished product is just so adorable and reminds me of a homemade bagel bite! I have scaled down this recipe to serve one person- I paired two mini pizzas with a salad and will have the others for lunch tomorrow! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and let me know if you give them a try!

Mini Bagel Pizzas
This recipe is adapted from The Comfort of Cooking.

2 mini bagels, halved
4 tablespoons pizza or pasta sauce
shredded mozzarella
desired toppings (I used chopped pepperonis)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Arrange bagel halves on sheet, ensuring nothing is touching. Spread 1 tablespoon of sauce on each bagel half, avoiding the center hole.
3. Sprinkle desired amount of cheese atop sauce. Place toppings on cheese.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes and enjoy!

My Hunt for the Perfect White Jean

Happy Monday, readers! I hope y'all had fabulous weekends and Easter celebrations. Every year I look forward to the sermon on Easter Sunday. There's just something about it- I love the Easter service at church! It always leaves me feeling refreshed and humbled. On Saturday, I was on the hunt. And no, it wasn't for Easter eggs! I was determined to find a pair of white jeans. I have been looking for the perfect pair for several years now and have come away from every shopping trip empty handed. I don't know why, but I just wasn't able to find the right fit.

There are a ton of options out there- straight legged, cropped, flared, wide legged- it can be overwhelming! As I've said before, I have a difficult time with length thanks to my height. Many of the stores I shop at seem to think that everyone has super long legs! Not the case for me, so I was really thankful when JCrew came out with their ankle pants. They actually fit me perfectly lengthwise!

Alas, length is not the only issue I was running into with my white jean hunt. Material and stretch were working against me- white is definitely NOT as slimming as the dark washes I am used to shopping for. I was struggling to find the right amount of material give without crossing over into the "jegging" category (nothing against them, just not what I was looking for). I actually had a successful trip on Saturday and FINALLY found my perfect white jean!!

I just love them and can't wait to start wearing them! For those of you still on the hunt, I've gathered up some of the great options out there- I hope they help you find your perfect fit!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Have you found your perfect white jean? Did you have to hunt to find them?

What to Wear to a Springtime Wedding

Happy Thursday! We are officially in Spring! In addition to allergy season, Spring kicks off wedding season. Weddings are one of those events when I can ALWAYS excuse buying a new dress. You know there will be a ton of photos, and I try to find dresses that can be worn to work as well. My college roommate is actually getting married this month, and I have yet to find a dress to wear! It's been a busy few weeks for me and I haven't been able to find time to go shopping. I did however find some time to peruse a few websites to see what's out there and narrow down where I'll shop in person.

I always have issues ordering dresses online, because of my height. I'm 5'3- which means that dresses who look normal length on the models come down to my shins! And I don't know about y'all, but I rarely get dresses hemmed. I don't really have a great reason, but I mainly just like to walk out of the store with something I can wear that night!

I associate Spring fashion with bright colors and floral accents, and weddings are no exception! I love dresses with sleeves this time of year- as the weather can still be unpredictable. As a wedding guest, I typically try to stay away from matching any themes or wearing a predominantly white dress. I've been raised to see that as rude or having ill-wishes towards the marriage (which in my opinion if you have those, you shouldn't be attending the wedding!). Have you heard of those rules? Do you have your own rules on dress code as a wedding guest?

Here are a few of my favorite picks!