Hey y’all-can you believe it’s already April? I feel like 2021 is flying by. It seriously feels like it was just Christmas! I was pretty quiet here on the blog during March, because I needed to focus on knocking out some apartment organization projects. They are still a work in progress, but I definitely made some headway. In addition, I needed some time to just relax and watch Gilmore Girls. I never watched Gilmore Girls when it originally aired, but one of my friends got me into it when she hosted a watch party in August 2019. I watched Season 1 and enjoyed it, but got distracted by other shows and life. After catching up on some other shows, I resumed Gilmore Girls in March and I’m now on Season 3. In addition, there were quite a few other things I enjoyed during March 2021. So before we get too far into April, I’m back with a new blog post sharing my March 2021 Favorites!
(This post contains affiliate links and my Beautycounter consultant links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support of Palmettos & Pineapples and my Beautycounter business!)
March Madness Basketball
As I’ve mentioned before, March is one of my favorite months of the year because of the NCAA basketball tournament. Since it got canceled due to coronavirus in 2020, I was especially happy for its return. My favorite part of the tournament is the first weekend, when I park myself in front of the TV for 12 hours of basketball each day and flip between games. This is when all of the exciting upsets happen, where an underdog beats a highly favored team. The upsets definitely didn’t disappoint in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Durham Toffee
So this wasn’t my first time having Durham Toffee, but it was my first time in awhile. I was excited to get a small bag of Durham Toffee in a goodie bag for a virtual missions conference I attended in February. However, I still had a temporary crown on my teeth then, so had to save the toffee for later. I got my permanent crown on at the end of February, so was able to enjoy the Durham Toffee in March. Durham Toffee is a small business, and it’s made right here in Durham. Toffee actually isn’t a sweet I regularly crave, but I absolutely love Durham Toffee. The combination of dark chocolate and toffee is delectable!
If you’re local to the Raleigh/Durham area, you can buy bags of Durham Toffee at certain retailers. In addition, you can order online and select local pick-up to avoid paying shipping. Even if you’re not a Raleigh/Durham local, it’s definitely worth paying shipping for a bag if you have a sweet tooth. Plus you’re supporting a small business. However, they do add an additional $10 surcharge for shipping from May-September, as shipping during these warm months requires additional supplies to keep your toffee from melting before it arrives to you. So I recommend going ahead and ordering some now if you’re an out-of-towner. Durham Toffee would also make an easy gift for any occasion!
Lilly Pulitzer Ruffle PJ Tank in Lilly’s Favorite Things
Back in December, I ordered Lilly Pulitzer pajama pants, pajama shorts, and a long-sleeved pajama top in the Lilly’s Favorite Things print. With the arrival of warm weather, it is getting too hot to sleep in long sleeves. So I ordered the Lilly’s Favorite Things Ruffle PJ Tank to pair with the matching shorts during the warmer months. Even though I can definitely pair a coordinating t-shirt with my Lilly pajama shorts, there’s just something about having a matching set!
The Ruffle PJ Tank is the one Lilly Pulitzer pajama piece that I don’t recommend sizing up in, unless you’re really busty. I bought the extra small in the Ruffle PJ Tank and it is plenty roomy for pajamas. I have a Lilly Pulitzer PJ Tank from last year in a size small. While it works, I really wish I had bought the extra small in that one too.
Gorgeous Spring Blooms
Even before the official arrival of spring, this absolute gorgeous tree outside my apartment building flowered. I shared it on Instagram a few weeks ago, but had to share it again soon. While there’s still been some days that the NC weather can’t decide what season it is, the increase in warm days over the past month and the pretty blooms signal that spring is officially here.
Draper James Sara Pajama Set in Pink Magnolia
In addition to my Lilly pajamas, I also love Draper James pajamas. Draper James PJs are also less expensive than Lilly PJs, which is a bonus! I bought a navy gingham Draper James nightgown last spring, and a plaid flannel Draper James sleep shirt this past fall. A Draper James short-sleeves & shorts pajama set for spring and summer had been on my wish list, so when they released their classic magnolia print with a light pink background, I couldn’t resist.
Draper James pajamas are so soft and comfy, and the Sara Pajama Set in Pink Magnolia is no exception. Definitely order your usual clothing size in Draper James pajamas, because they are cut generously to account for the fact people tend to like their pajamas to be a little roomy. I’m wearing an extra small here, and the small would have been way too big, especially the shorts.
Kendra Scott Ari Heart Pendant
Since my birthday is in March, I took advantage of the Kendra Scott birthday month discount and ordered the Ari Heart Pendant in iridescent druzy for 50% off. (You can sign up here to receive a 50% off Kendra Scott discount code valid once during your birthday month.) Last year when the Kendra Scott Ari Heart Pendant was a brand new style, I got it in rose gold and pink druzy for my birthday piece. Since I love it so much, I decided to get the same style in a different color for my birthday discount piece this year. I went with the gold chain and iridescent druzy, since it will literally go with everything. Also, Kendra Scott now has an extended chain option in select styles and colors, so I chose the extended length for my iridescent druzy Ari Heart Pendant. Typical chain length is 15″-17″, and the extended length is 17″-20″.
Amazon 2-Tier Bathroom Counter Organizer
Last year I bought a bathroom countertop organizer on Amazon that I liked for awhile, but then I realized it was simply a bit too large for my space. And even though it held a lot, I started to feel like having that much stuff displayed on a countertop shelf made it look cluttered. Also, now that I’m using my Waterpik water flosser nightly, I needed to free up some counter space for that. So, I found this smaller two-tier bathroom counter organizer from Amazon. It fits nicely in the corner. It’s the perfect size for holding skincare items I use daily, plus my toothpaste, deodorant, and some body lotion. I highly recommend this if you’re looking to organize and maximize your bathroom space.
Beautycounter Fresh Coconut Deodorant
Speaking of deodorant, I bought the full-sized Beautycounter Clean Deodorant for the first time in March 2021! I first tried Beautycounter clean deodorant back in November, when they released a set of minis as part of the holiday collection. Beautycounter then released the full size option for their clean deodorant in January, but I held off on buying because I had the Beautycounter minis, plus some other clean deodorant brands around.
But with the arrival of warm weather, I decided it was time to go ahead and buy the full-size Beautycounter deodorant. I need the most effective option possible during the upcoming months of heat and humidity in the South! Beautycounter clean deodorant comes in Fresh Coconut, Clean Rose, and Soft Lavender. Fresh Coconut is definitely my favorites of the three scents.
In addition to controlling underarm odor without aluminum and other harmful ingredients, Beautycounter clean deodorant comes in sustainable packaging. The deodorant product is actually an insert that clicks into outer packaging. When you make your initial purchase, it comes fully assembled. Then once you use up the deodorant, you pull the empty product insert out and recycle it. Then you insert the deodorant refill into the outer container. The deodorant refills are also less expensive than the entire container. So, you won’t pay as much for subsequent purchases as you will your initial purchases. Furthermore, the deodorant packaging is simply beautiful, and I love how pretty it looks displayed on my bathroom counter organizer.
Shop all three Beautycounter Clean Deodorant scents here. Please email me if you have any questions about clean deodorant in general! Also, check out this feature on Beautycounter Clean Deodorant in Nylon!
Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Sandwiches
In March I was finally able to snag a box of Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Sandwiches in one of my Shipt grocery orders. I heard awhile back that these ice cream sandwiches were part of the lineup of Mickey-themed frozen treats available at grocery stores. However, the Target I get my groceries from hadn’t had them. These are similar to the Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Sandwiches you can get at the Disney Parks. The outside consists of classic chocolate ice cream sandwich wafers in a Mickey shape. Then the inside features cookies & cream ice cream, which is a nice twist on the vanilla inside a traditional ice cream sandwich. These Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwiches are a fun way to enjoy Disney magic at home!
Mini Operation Game
My closest blogger friend, Emily Smith, sent me a spare mini Operation game that she got from the Hasbro Gaming McDonald’s Happy Meal toy promotion from earlier this year. It’s so cute, and I’m glad that Emily shares my affinity for collecting Happy Meal toys as an adult.
She and her husband are currently building their own home in the Indianapolis area, so check out her journey on her YouTube, Instagram, and blog. She also shares travel and home decor content too!
Vera Bradley ID Holder in Sweet Treats Ditsy Disney Print
I had been eyeing the Vera Bradley ID Holder in the Sweet Treats Ditsy Disney print for awhile. It has gone in and out of stock over the past several months, and last month I grabbed it while it was in stock. I already have several items from this particular Vera Bradley Disney collection, including a couple that Vera Bradley gifted me to promote the launch back in August 2020. The Disney Parks treats in the print are such a fun way to experience a bit of Disney magic at home. Of course, they are also perfect for taking on a Disney trip!
I couldn’t resist grabbing the Sweet Treats Ditsy ID holder because it is inexpensive and doesn’t take up much storage space. It zips closed on top. There’s a pocket with clear window to hold your ID, and another pocket that will hold a credit and some cash. The Vera Bradley Disney ID holder would be perfect for putting in your bag for the Disney Parks since it doesn’t take up much space. Even if it’s out of stock at the moment, I recommend checking back, because Vera Bradley periodically restocks their Disney prints.
My Birthday
March is always special each year because it’s my birthday month! If you’re like me and have a late-March birthday, you now have the distinction of having two pandemic birthdays. Although I will look forward to being able to have a birthday party with friends again next year, my second pandemic birthday was still special. During my first COVID birthday, the pandemic had just started and there was so much uncertainty about everything. One year later, the pandemic is still a thing, but the light at the end of the tunnel is visible now! This year I was able to actually go to Starbucks and pick up my free birthday drink on my actual birthday. And I got to gather with my family to celebrate shortly after my actual birthday, whereas I didn’t get to do that last year.
The belated birthday celebration with my parents and brother included grilled pizza, cake & ice cream, and March Madness basketball. Although this celebration was technically in April, I’m still including it in my March Favorites.Since my actual birthday was in March and the celebration was only a few days into April, it makes sense to include here. My actual birthday was on a weekday, so I enjoyed a relaxing night in and feeling loved by the various birthday messages I got throughout the day.
Cheers to a Good Month!
Hope you enjoyed reading about my March 2021 Favorites. It was a good month filled with some fun new things plus the return of some cherished festivities! In addition, I also met my sales goal as a Sarah Flint Brand Ambassador on the very last day of March and earned another free pair of Sarah Flint shoes. Since I ordered and received my newest free pair of shoes this month, I will save them for my April Favorites post. In the meantime, you can check them out on this Instagram Reel I created.
I definitely plan to publish more new blog posts in April, so stay tuned.
As a reminder, I’d love to connect on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. For additional bonus content you can subscribe to my insiders’ newsletter here. As a thank you, you will get a cheat sheet to saving money on some of my favorite brands.
-xoxo Liz
