https://www.alectosjournal.com/beauty-lifestyle-blog daily 0.75 2026-06-12 https://www.alectosjournal.com/beauty-lifestyle-blog/things-i-find-incredibly-chic monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://www.alectosjournal.com/beauty-lifestyle-blog/fashion-i-would-buy-if-i-had-the-money monthly 0.5 2026-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131782708-ABT3Z8V1EMTBKI9USZKF/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154827.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131806828-07Y4L2HRRICYSKWGLAPN/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154820.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131812787-DP4TK8DULF2GMNO9ZLYM/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154814.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131817907-PGUZBUCABL0WKATJPNJ8/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154740.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131822421-7X6Q4ZMV5A0DCW9ADRHA/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154730.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131832121-26SOSMYNC305H8DX3CN2/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154556.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131836840-G8AHTLAA1U5JAZTIFCJQ/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154538.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131841446-0MPWYURX6K69NSCXGP9Q/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154459.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131845468-3BZEDUBG5WI3ESG3M370/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154412.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781131851335-YX8DA9Y6VNFCULVVHEVL/Screenshot+2026-06-10+154354.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781132785474-9ZD41XZIIW7W2UDK8GHO/Screenshot+2026-06-10+160541.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781132789366-8JE5OUHLWF4BNAOB5Y09/Screenshot+2026-06-10+160526.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781132794418-ZU06I5L6OVO3067RXQXT/Screenshot+2026-06-10+160535.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781132799229-RS44YSDZGT00U6KGX2V0/Screenshot+2026-06-10+160551.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781132820123-XJR6T1F1Z171MW77DMZC/Screenshot+2026-06-10+160521.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1781132803773-MGLZYJU126TXBWYTVBFZ/Screenshot+2026-06-10+160614.png Beauty - Fashion I Would Buy If Money Was No Object https://www.alectosjournal.com/beauty-lifestyle-blog/Blog Post Title One-3zaa9-zlxng-fc3np monthly 0.5 2026-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/79482374-c2be-4cef-af97-e6f93c95ae66/amazon-echo-spot-9587352.jpg.webp Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Amazon’s Echo Spot 1. Amazon’s Echo Spot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/2659f22a-61dc-4ba8-a773-090f3a184173/2521827.png Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrogel Mask It might be a cliche but I love face masks. There is something luxurious about washing your face, brushing your teeth, and getting into bed to settle in for the night. When I’m an hour or so away from bedtime, I like to enhance my evenings with a sheet mask, usually a gel-type such as this one from Neutrogena. I also appreciate blackhead masks that hurt when you peel them off. I have tough skin that gets a lot of acne in my T-Zone, and having those masks really helps me remove stubborn tiny pimples and gunk. The brand I use is AUSLKA Blackhead Pore Strips, which comes with 70 strips for less than $8 on Amazon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/6b6cf006-fbde-4830-93f1-c7bb202a5bd7/Screenshot+2026-06-10+131605.png Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Portable Planner I am not an organized woman by nature. In fact, I’m a hurricane of clutter and procrastination. Too many times have I made plans only to discover I had overlapped them over each other and forgot about it. Something that has been helpful when trying to become more organized and accountable has been buying a small, cheap planner. One that I’m not afraid to bang up, scribble in, and pencil in plans. It keeps me aware of when I’m busy, the things I have to do, and making sure I’m not unknowingly layering plans on top of one another. Since starting a calendar/planner for my monthly activities, I have avoided so many missed deadlines, miscalculated activities that wind up happening at the same time as one another, and accidental swapped times and dates. Honestly, it has also made me excited for upcoming events when I see them in my calendar. For awhile, I actually hated agendas and planners. I’d forget to use them, leave them at home and render them useless, and forgo my planner altogether. Instead, I built my own calendar on Google Slides. With a pasted photo of the months calendar where I put text in the boxes with highlighted colors. I used this system for almost 2 years before I ended up picking up a handheld planner and since then I’ve done well with my little book. And if you care about the look of your planner, one google search will show you thousands of really cute ones to choose from! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/ddc60a70-7a22-475a-a61a-e74a0d045a42/Screenshot+2026-06-10+135558.png Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel Okay, this is an insane pick but hear me out. I am an itchy girl after I shave. Especially my legs which on day two after shaving light up with itchy spots. Yes, I apply lotion, yes I eat well, no its not an allergy. It’s just how my skin is even after shaving aftercare especially with course Italian hair. One item I find is my go to for all things itchy is this gel. It’s an instant relief. Its great for bug bites, itchy rashes/sunburns, literally anything. Again I know its so random to put on this list, and it’s not exactly glamorous, but this gel saves me in the middle of the night when my calf is way too itchy or a sunburn just won’t calm down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/7145b33a-2beb-4aab-92f0-abc4f62cceab/Screenshot+2026-06-10+140323.png Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Head & Body Massage Tool Okay, guys, I know this is another insane pick. But listen. I love massages but I don’t always have massage money. Sometimes I just want to roll out my calves, or feel something comb through my hair and scratch my scalp. There is something so soothing about it. I bought one online awhile back, and now there’s time I crave using my head scratcher. It immediately seems to pinpoint tight skin and muscle that you didn’t realize was so tense. I genuinely think there’s a scientific benefit to occasionally using a tool such as this one for your health. Just imagine, you’re in bed, you’re nice and cozy, you had a nice long day, and now just for a few minutes you take the time to make yourself so sleepy by using a head scratcher. It’s magical. I don’t care if you simple-Sally’s think its weird. This is for those who genuinely want to elevate small moments of their day and add a little sprinkle of pampering to their evening routine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/42056100-fe20-4843-bc66-046ee3df0805/Screenshot+2026-06-10+141432.png Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Flamingo Refillable Shaving Razor If you shave anything on your body, and buy razors every 6 months just to throw them away. Then Don’t. Ladies, INVEST. IN. YOUR. RAZOR. I bought a Flamingo branded razor with a removable blade component which you can replace with a new one. The handle is a nice sturdy material that has lasted me years, and I buy the replacement blades online for cheap. Literally 8 for $10. I’ve had the same replacement bag of those 8 refills for years now and I’m just recently down to my last replacement blade. They work great, the gel base is smooth and makes shaving painless, and it will save you money and a waste of plastic in the long run. I highly recommend for those who buy razors just to throw the whole thing out after it becomes dull. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/19137938-ea30-4f10-9408-e2c78c465f67/Screenshot+2026-06-10+143722.png Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Beats Solo 4 My job allows me to listen to music as I work. I alternate between Airpods (which I lost one of them) and my Beat’s headphones. The music sounds so vibrant through these, and the noise cancelling is shocking coming from exclusively using apple headphones for so long. The ear pads are plush and comfortable, and they aren’t too bulky so they don’t make you look like you’re wearing a helmet like some other headphone brands. I like how they adjust at the small metal band you can see, but they also click and fold up for easy transportation. The only thing you should know about these is that wearing them too long in one position can make the top of your head feel tender and if you listen at full volume your music may be faintly heard by people around you. Beyond these two thing’s I’ve noticed, I don’t mind and I really am happy to finally have a pair of headphones that are worth the price. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/f01807dd-a3fc-410a-896c-2de9052f6501/Screenshot+2026-06-11+154429.png Beauty - 8 Products That Make My Life Easier and Enjoyable - Dual Phone Charger I suck at keeping my tech charged. Most of the time, either my laptop or phone are on low battery; and we don’t even talk about my I-Pad and Apple Watch. A life saver I’ve invested in is a dual charging block. It keeps my phone and laptop charged and beats out having multiple charging wires/blocks overburdening your outlets. For those who may not keep up with their tech’s batteries, a small way to make it easier is simply expanding what you can charge at one time. https://www.alectosjournal.com/beauty-favorites daily 0.75 2026-06-15 https://www.alectosjournal.com/beauty-favorites/Blog Post Title One-3zaa9-zlxng-xbkmm-k8amy monthly 0.5 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/9080be7b-55ab-4adb-b81e-e5219c774437/Screenshot+2026-06-11+155328.png Beauty Favorites - My 7 Current Favorite Makeup, Beauty & Skincare Products - Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/d16fb9cd-109b-4d81-a309-dbb4012d152c/Screenshot+2026-06-11+155408.png Beauty Favorites - My 7 Current Favorite Makeup, Beauty & Skincare Products - Tula Skincare - the cult classic face cleanser https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/f16a920e-7503-480a-99da-839ef1d2f6ca/Screenshot+2026-06-11+160302.png Beauty Favorites - My 7 Current Favorite Makeup, Beauty & Skincare Products - Dolce & Gabbana - The Only One https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/6f97303c-7fc7-4445-9237-6bc940795d36/Screenshot+2026-06-11+155452.png Beauty Favorites - My 7 Current Favorite Makeup, Beauty & Skincare Products - AUSLKA Deep Cleansing Nose Strips https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/bea53ba3-02be-4a2e-af47-46bc8f3aad19/Screenshot+2026-06-11+155515.png Beauty Favorites - My 7 Current Favorite Makeup, Beauty & Skincare Products - E.L.F. Cosmetics Camo Liquid Blush https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/7e618dbe-7e31-4818-8df8-8d0dc0159cf4/Screenshot+2026-06-11+155943.png Beauty Favorites - My 7 Current Favorite Makeup, Beauty & Skincare Products - L’OCCITANE Creme Mains Hand Cream https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/40048376-31d8-455c-b965-ce30f81f38c7/Screenshot+2026-06-11+160048.png Beauty Favorites - My 7 Current Favorite Makeup, Beauty & Skincare Products - Grecian Soap Company Roll-On Perfume - Island Citrus https://www.alectosjournal.com/fashion-favorites daily 0.75 2026-06-12 https://www.alectosjournal.com/food-lifestyle-favorites daily 0.75 2026-06-12 https://www.alectosjournal.com/food-lifestyle-favorites/the-american-italian-girls-guide-to-eating-amp-cooking monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/c0429e99-d235-4bf7-b650-dbaefe4674b1/20240517215428-pk-eggplant-parmesan-9579-min.jpg.webp Food & Lifestyle - The Italian-American Girl’s Guide to Eating & Cooking - Eggplant Parmesan is hearty, saucy, and has the perfect texture. I personally consider this to be the best dish to prepare, as well as my favorite thing to eat. With layers of beefy tomato sauce, breaded fried eggplant, and gooey mozzarella, I truly don’t think there are many dishes that can compete for my love of this recipe. While not considered a bad thing to me, a “con” of eggplant parmesan is usually the time it takes to cook it. You must bread and fry the slices of eggplant, cook the beef and the sauce, and then layer it all in a dish to move to the oven. As someone who enjoys cooking, I enjoy the time it takes to make this dish, and I go into a flow state. My secret bonus is adding ground beef into the layers to add that extra savory taste. Cooking Difficulty: Hard What You Need: Eggplant Tomato Sauce Garlic Ground Beef Butter Olive Oil Bread Crumbs Egg(s) Mozzarella Cheese Assorted Spices https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/e45dac16-33b9-4199-83ba-0809347d41db/20220224113051-mussels-20in-20white-20wine-20sauce-2.png.webp Food & Lifestyle - The Italian-American Girl’s Guide to Eating & Cooking - When I’m home alone, feeling lazy, but wanting a full dinner, I will go straight to this dish. It’s butter, garlic, and pasta; there’s not much more you can ever want. For cheap, there are frozen boxes of mussels found at most grocery stores under $6, which includes the mussels and the garlic butter sauce already ready to go. All I do is place it into a buttered pan on the stove, add garlic, white wine, and some spices, and the pre-made mussels handle the rest. The only tip is never eat the mussels that don’t open, as there is a reason they won’t open up while cooking, and it’s best to avoid potential food sickness. The last thing to do is boil some water and cook your pasta of choice, and enjoy an easy, quick meal that feels like you’re dining out. Cooking Difficulty: Medium What you Need: Frozen Clams/Mussels Butter (lots of it) White Wine Garlic Pasta (usually spaghetti) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/ae402cf2-7620-47c6-9fb8-2d8a72c38815/horizontal-caprese-platter-close.jpg Food & Lifestyle - The Italian-American Girl’s Guide to Eating & Cooking - Arguably, the easiest, fastest, and tastiest bang for your buck. Caprese salad is good as a side dish for lunches or dinners, but it even stands to be a light afternoon lunch or quick pick-me-up snack. Consisting of just 3-4 ingredients, layers of sliced mozzarella between sliced tomato seem so simple (and it is) and yet packs a great savory/light flavor. To enhance the caprese salads, I love to layer olive oil, balsamic glaze, salt, pepper, and basil leaves on top. both for a lovely presentation as well as added flavor. Cooking Difficulty: Easy What You Need: Mozzarella Cheese Tomato (Heirloom or Beefsteak) Basil leaves Balsamic Vinegar/Glaze Salt & Pepper Olive Oil https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/0ac93d4b-bdce-4ca8-b261-b594510fbe20/braciole-fb.jpg Food & Lifestyle - The Italian-American Girl’s Guide to Eating & Cooking - A savory, saucy beef dish that will impress any guests you have over. In simple terms, bricholle is thinly sliced beef with mozzarella rolled inside it, breaded, and sauteed. You then serve it in a hearty tomato sauce that covers the whole thing. Add some parmesan, cilantro, and a bit of fresh basil, and you have the main course for your dinner. Cooking Difficulty: Medium What You’ll Need: Thinly Sliced Beef Tomato Sauce Garlic Heavy Whipping Cream Cilantro Mozzarella Bread crumb Parmesan Cheese Butter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/973115ec-46d5-4648-b878-89b662d072fa/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2016__03__20160201-seafood-salad-vicky-wasik-17-372b5145e0d6494a9b5d58dcc0b7243d.jpg Food & Lifestyle - The Italian-American Girl’s Guide to Eating & Cooking - Now, be warned, one must love seafood to eat this next dish. Italian Seafood Salad, or lovingly known as Insalata di Mare, is an all-seafood-based cold salad, with squid, clam, shrimp, celery, and lemon. It’s perfectly tasty, flavorful with the lemon atop the freshly cold fish, and makes a wonderful appetizer, lunch, or side dish for a very seaside dinner. Most ingredients can be found frozen, sometimes even together as a mixed bag of seafood, which makes preparation easy and fast. Cooking Difficulty: Easy What You’ll Need: Calamari Shrimp Lemon Celery Mussels and/or Clams Olive Oil Parlsey Salt & Pepper Capers w/ juice (if you’re feeling frisky) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/ec251989-f4b9-47d4-82e3-ba37af919388/Caprese-Bruschetta-Recipe-copy-scaled.jpg Food & Lifestyle - The Italian-American Girl’s Guide to Eating & Cooking - Sometimes for breakfast, I don’t have bacon and eggs, I don’t wan’t cereal, and I want something that will elevate my morning. This simple dish can be a great quiet morning meal, appetizer for dinner, or even afternoon snack. Pronounced, broo-sket-tah., this meal is not only delicious but can also be altered to your taste preferences. Some of my favorites are bruschetta with tomato, balsamic glaze, salt. pepper, and some cheese OR olive tapenade on a herb bread. Its fast, simple, and yet taste and presentation will make you feel so fancy and put together. Cooking Difficulty: Super Easy What You’ll Need: Baguette Tomato Olive Olive Oil Balsamic Gaze Salt & Pepper Basil (if you want some zest) Cheese (pick your poison) https://www.alectosjournal.com/food-lifestyle-favorites/youtubers-i-watch-daily monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/663a3d6f-8558-48d6-b877-4ecedea446d6/MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE-THUMBNAILS-1-copy-12.png.webp Food & Lifestyle - Youtubers That Don’t Rot My Brain - Make it stand out Caroline Winkler in her prior Washington D.C. apartment - http://www.youtube.com/@Caroline_Winkler https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/a49ea490-2b49-4cc8-987f-c8b769930afa/rewilding-jude-how-a-personal-reset-sparked-a-creators-journey-in-rural-scotland-20251027_131201-7e71c2.png Food & Lifestyle - Youtubers That Don’t Rot My Brain - Make it stand out Jude standing in front of their chicken coup - http://www.youtube.com/@rewildingjude https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/9314ba39-bf91-4be9-9013-715e18a16e29/001_kevin_jacobs_valatie_jrm.jpg Food & Lifestyle - Youtubers That Don’t Rot My Brain - Make it stand out Kevin sitting alongside his pianos in his New York home - http://www.youtube.com/@kevinleejacobs1364 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/f17d1837-abff-4b66-90a3-23269b498475/hqdefault.jpg Food & Lifestyle - Youtubers That Don’t Rot My Brain - Make it stand out Brittany in the thumbnail of her video: “The 26 makeup products I own in 2026.” - http://www.youtube.com/@bornblushing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/b68d896a-79a1-49e6-880c-1084f0776091/png0320nrenovation-04.jpg.webp Food & Lifestyle - Youtubers That Don’t Rot My Brain - Make it stand out Jenna and her partner Nick in front of their project home - http://www.youtube.com/@JennaPhipps https://www.alectosjournal.com/book-of-the-week-1 daily 0.75 2026-06-14 https://www.alectosjournal.com/book-of-the-week-1/how-to-lose-a-goblin-in-10-days-by-jesse-sylva monthly 0.5 2026-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/cd64f0fe-a189-4aee-849f-ce2cf0b5c761/9780316585927.jpg.webp Book of The Week - How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days by Jesse Sylva - Book Rating: 4.5 / 5 I really enjoyed this fun book to the point where I finished it within three days. I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I’ve read a book that fast. Now this book is not meant to be the next Shakespeare; it’s a “fun” book like the ones I’ve reviewed before. Featuring a halfling named Pansy and a goblin named Ren, who end up at the same cottage, both feeling they’re entitled to it. A deal is struck, and what ensues is a competition of who can chase the other out. And then they were roommates… But throughout this ongoing deal, feelings begin to quietly develop between the two of them. As I previously mentioned in another post, I adore The Lord of the Rings, both in book form and in film. When I was at a local book shop, I stumbled upon this book and was enticed by the notion that it was a “halfling” story. Which pleasantly surprised me when the author snuck in some Lord of the Rings references within the text, bringing a smile to my face while reading. Yet, the story itself does not completely rob its lore from Tolkien. Ren’s life as a goblin is really fascinating from a fantasy reader’s standpoint. As typically, we are not granted the opportunity to see the domestic elements of goblins in media. The uses of different greenery, their cultures with markets and clan camaraderie were really sweet to see, as well as serving as a main stressor for Ren. Speaking of Ren and Pansy, it’s funny to say, but I really enjoyed their banter back and forth, as well as their deconstruction of their own speciesism against one another in the beginning stages. It was just weighted enough to give the story some grounded plot as well as a basis for the two characters to interact and grow with one another. I know that the story does not take from LOTR; however, I was intrigued by the organization of this halfling community in Haverow. Where it seems these halflings care a lot about perfection, despite not wearing shoes, or smithing, or anything I’d argue is considered advanced. Halflings, at their core, prioritize relaxation and ease, so for the author to write their version of halflings as perfectionists about baking (?), I felt served just to make Pansy isolated for being more curious than others. I believe that may be my only curious detail I question, as both Ren and Pansy bond over being “othered” by their groups, sometimes to an extent I felt was just to serve the characters. However, let that not be a reason for you not to read this book. Another curious choice by the author, one I actually really enjoyed, was how there is criticism of the local Wizard that “recruits” halflings in Haverrow. He becomes a big part of the story towards the end, and I was intrigued by how, instead of being beloved by the heroine, she actually was resentful towards the wizard. As she felt he uses halflings for his own purposes, obviously recalling Gandalf’s usage of Bilbo and Frodo. Only to return the halflings home forever changed, sometimes devastatingly so, such as Pansy’s grandmother. Which I felt was an interesting way to spin the lore within your own fantasy world, compared to the other halfling story that is widely revered. Which there was certainly some logic to the criticism of the Wizards’ use of halflings within this book. If you like fantasy, if you like The Lord of the Rings, and want more halfling stories (while not directly connecting to Tolkien), this is a really fun book to scratch that itch of wanting cozy, whimsical stories. https://www.alectosjournal.com/book-of-the-week-1/my-year-of-rest-and-relaxation-by-ottessa-moshfegh monthly 0.5 2026-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1c3e3783-524f-4e92-82e5-8b0bf18184cb/relaxation-663x1024.jpg.webp Book of The Week - My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh - Book Rating: 2 / 5 Can I just begin by saying I genuinely thought I was going to enjoy this book? That was before I began reading it, and had based my opinion on the plot of the back of the novel’s description. Let me begin by saying, Ottessa Moshfegh is a very talented writer. Despite my dislike for the substance of this novel, it’s Moshfegh’s writing that pushed me to finish this story. I've never been interested in reading other novels by an author whom I did not like on the first read, but I have been bamboozled by Moshfegh. Because somehow, I can see in this novel that she has immense writing talent, all while it was a slog to get through the actual story told in this novel. Perhaps it’s because I’m too soft, perhaps it’s because I believed I’d have a more Gossip Girl vibe from this novel, maybe I waited for the sky to clear and for the issues to resolve. Yet, none of that happens in this novel. Our main character, an unnamed woman in her twenties, is suffering from severe depression. One she isn’t aware of, and instead has likened her prolonged numbness to deciding that she needs a rebirth. To do this, she turns to sleeping medication. Which she takes by the handful in hopes of skipping entire weekends and then some. She has one “friend” whom she repeatedly says she hates, named Reva. Who is also a vapid, blabbermouth who comes over just to chat and mention how skinny our main character is. My main issue with this novel is that it feels endless, similar to how our main character desires sleep. And not in an oh, this was the author’s idea to make it feel like that way, but in a genuinely difficult read to get through, as you hear about the same four things for almost 300 pages. Her troublesome upbringing, her empty hours watching television, getting two coffees, and sleeping. Don’t get me wrong, our main character has every right to suffer from mental illness, it is human, she is burdened with grief, she is orphaned by parents who never looked twice at her, she has a complicated situationship with “Trevor,” the no-good man who comes over to finish on her chest. This character is of nothing and has nothing. However, she will remind you several times that she is financially well off, skinny, blonde, and pretty, even when she stopped taking care of herself a long time ago. There are also some taboo subjects, or things said by characters that I didn’t feel added to the story beyond the wow-factor of making characters seem vapid and edgy. Perhaps this novel simply wasn’t for me. Maybe I’m being too harsh. As I wrote earlier, Moshfegh is clearly a talented, leviathan-level writer, but I’m of the belief that this novel lacks something. Critics called it a dark comedy, but I suffer trying to find elements of the book I’m meant to snicker at. The ending is unfulfilling as our main character ends up successfully blacking out for four months and entering a sort of peaceful reawakening. Which I feel makes no sense and hastily closes up an otherwise tragic story. So, I just spent hours reading about a thin, pretty, blonde woman who doesn’t have to work, living in an apartment in New York, who is suffering from an undiagnosed depression, who is then rewarded with successfully pulling off her plan of rebirth through taking pills that cause her to black out for days at a time? What, now she gets to walk around Central Park, and smell the roses, and lose her remaining attachments to the world after she emerges from this long-term blackout? I know this book is about mental health, about the trials and tribulations of grief and unrequited childhood love, about the loneliness of even those in society deemed “big-fish” such as rich blonde skinny women, but either these elements did not successfully attach to my heartstrings, or I simply did not truly feel these elements carried through the novel with genuine contemplation. The book starts and ends with our main character getting her way, with her not truly having to process anything; she just sleeps. https://www.alectosjournal.com/book-of-the-week-1/v5h2adgmcktffv48ngttsxt8wqk6g2 monthly 0.5 2026-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/e40822d6-b9de-47b8-819f-64d72ae0a437/81KPSWndFaL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Book of The Week - Meet The Benedettos: A Novel by Katie Cotungo - Book Rating: 3.5 / 5 ~ A fun read with a few misgivings. Meet the Benedettos by Kate Cotungo paints itself as a romantic comedy that loosely takes from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Centering on the Benedetto sister: Lily, of the reality TV family the Benedetto’s where three seasons of prime-time television has caused the now-defunct family to be famous for being famous. Consider them a fictional edition of our beloved Kardashian clan. However, years later, the current family is beginning to stretch thin as their money begins to dwindle, and the veil of L.A glamor has long worn off. Lily, our heroine, is a spunky, hot-headed brunette who aspires to be a writer. She drives a beater car, portrays herself as the most grounded of her four sisters, and successfully navigates the L.A scene. She gets who she wants, she has no fucks to give, and is very protective of her family despite their flaws. Then we meet Will Darcy, our suave romantic interest, who has come to L.A from New York for an acting job. Small hints of a darker past and mental health crises are littered in most of the novel for Will. He is nonchalant, very forward, a bit sarcastic, and apparently very handsome. I call a novel like this a “fun book.” It is not serious, not dark, and not introspective. Its simply meant to be a nice read where you can escape to silly antics and first-world problems. The kind of book you bring with you on vacation. Personally, I enjoy reading a quick light-hearted book such as this. I recently completed the Lord of the Rings novels, and I must say this book was a nice change from the long-winded, mystical writing that is Tolkien. While I may pit Tolkien’s works as some of my absolute favorites, sometimes it can be a bit much to read. I think the characters are fleshed out fairly well. The main cast consists of Lilly and her four sisters: June, Olivia, Kit, and Mari. Their parents: Dominic and Cinta. And Will’s clan of people: Georgia (his sister), Caroline (his manager/situationship), and Charlie Bingley (his movie star best friend). I think I say “fairly” well because the sisters all sound like one another, except Kit, the one who elects not to speak and is considered the “kooky” sister. June is supposed to be our “Jane" and is considered a pretty and kind blonde who suffers throughout the novel with disordered eating. Olivia is the younger scrappier sister, she curses, parties, and eventually runs off to hook up with Lily’s old flame Nick (who, of course, is not a decent guy in the slightest). Cinta (their mother) is reputation-driven throughout the book and remains in a floaty denial about their financial circumstances. Insisting that they maintain the cost of living like a reality television family. We only get a glimpse into her mind towards the end, where our author finally gives us some depth to Cinta and expands on why she insists on pretending like her household isn’t going broke and falling apart. Dominic (their father) I’d say, is not given much character, as he isn’t focused on all too much, and doesn’t take up many pages. What I can recall of him is that he works out for hours each day and seems to be the only one stressed about the household finances, yet indulges his daughters’ expensive demands anyway. Going back to my use of the wording “fairly well,” I say this because the Benedettos and even Will Darcy and his people tend to have this habit of making hyper-specific references and witty one-liners in conversation. On one page, you’ll see Lilly make a connection between how someone’s bad behaviors make her recall Paris Hilton’s disastrous birthday at Nobu, and on the next page, Will Darcy’s manager/situationship Caroline will make a comment about how the traffic in L.A is just as bad as the lines in Erewhon. I know they are talking about different topics, but the delivery and pattern of the witty comment paired with a remark towards something about L.A fame and lifestyle jump to each character. At first, I thought this comparison-banter would be one of Lily’s characteristics to show she’s “unique,” but then all the characters began to do it. I just guess everyone in the novel enjoys making exasperated comments about being famous in L.A? At one point, it just felt like our author was making the characters say these things about L.A and being famous to directly prove that she knew how to make them sound famous and how much she knew about L.A culture. However, this emphasis on their involvement in fame and notoriety comes at the expense of the characters all talking the same. Another thing I had noticed was how quickly the novel wraps everything up in a nice bow. From spending the whole novel with Will and Lilly at odds, then flirting, then at odds again, to the financial and social troubles of the family. The ending, where everything suddenly picks up, is within the last 30 pages. Lilly’s first book is getting published, Olivia’s “tape” kickstarts an online career for advertising adult products, the silent sister was secretly investing in stock and manages to save the family from ruin, and Will Darcy shows up at Lilly Benedetto’s door to apologize before he is whisked off to New York. All is well in the final hour. Don’t get me wrong, I love a happy ending; in fact, I prefer them. But I feel that a part of me was nearing the last pages of this book, confused as to how everything was going to wrap up in 10 pages. Instead of a staggered solution to the several key issues, the author almost speeds through how each one is suddenly magically resolved in such a whirlwind of an ending. I’m happy that all is well in the end for our characters, yet I feel like the ending could have been stretched further so that all the loose ends aren’t tied up at once. Perhaps Olivia’s issue with Nick could have been the first to be solved, with her flipping the narrative and giving Nick (who disappears at this point) some rightful punishment, which could then jog an interest among the media in June and her budding romance with the movie star Charlie Bingley. Because of that, June finally runs out of momentum with her issues and looks to her family for support, where she is then admitted to the program she attends at the end of the story, with Charlie still visiting her. Will and Lilly, throughout this, would be crossing paths as usual, and slowly but surely come to rekindle their connection. The family financials could then be resolved through multiple avenues, with Olivia’s new wave of internet fame, the quiet sisters’ reveal of her investments, Lilly’s book deal, and even an admission from Will about his feelings for Lilly before they fly off to New York hand in hand. All of this could have been fluffed up for a longer, more well-paced ending. Overall, I liked this book. As I said earlier, it’s a vacation read. Something to crack open when you want an escape where there’s no real stakes, some drama, and a smidge of spice. The two key issues I had don’t diminish the enjoyment of the book; in fact, the issue about pacing speaks to the fact that I didn’t want the book to end as fast as it did. I recommend this book for those who want a quick, light, non-commital read. If you enjoy reality tv or pop culture, perhaps scoffing at the lunacy of L.A fame, and enjoy glimpses of Jane Austen, you may just like this novel. https://www.alectosjournal.com/reviews daily 0.75 2026-06-17 https://www.alectosjournal.com/reviews/first-aid-beauty-ultra-repair-cream monthly 0.5 2026-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/b4c2a702-1a51-4d94-83f2-ecbb3dfa6ff4/Screenshot+2026-06-17+093704.png Reviews - First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream - Price: $20 - Score: 5/5 Would Use Again! It’s that time of my review process where I am using up the last of my product. I will immediately say how I really enjoyed this moisturizer. When I first applied it, I was concerned at first from the strong (honestly kind of minty) scent I got from the cream. Which made me think I may have some irritation due to my suspected scent oil they apparently put inside. But yet, this initial reaction was utterly wrong because there is no additives that are perfumes or useless oils. There was in fact no irritation! This moisturizer was straight to the point, and incredibly moisturizing. I’d apply it after my baths because that is when I get the most dry. It seeped into the skin quickly without a lasting residue, and was almost cooling on application. I purchased the 2 oz tube of the product which lasted me around 3 months. The price was decent for the amount of product and paired well with my sunscreen I’d usually apply right after putting on the moisturizer. Overall, I would totally buy this product again. It did the job, kept my skin clear, and felt amazing to apply with its whipped formula. A little about the product ingredients: This moisturizer contains allantoin, a soothing agent for skincare, as well as colloidal oatmeal which helps combat eczema. Now, I don’t have eczema, however, I felt that this product certainly seems gentle on sensitive skin. (Keep in mind my skin is not sensitive but I feel this way due to how gentle and seamless this cream was for the face). https://www.alectosjournal.com/about daily 0.75 2026-06-04 https://www.alectosjournal.com/home daily 1.0 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1e2006c8-5e14-40be-bb90-642d69cdc7c3/venus-de-milo-profile-louvre-credit-bradley-weber-CC2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/feea98f9-65f5-4239-9dc5-3671b4bc3fad/33466802_1951364714875830_4192770524876636160_n.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/3afd2a2a-b89e-4696-984e-b8e7952e0549/4b00d7bb798a4e765c52856aab43a1dc.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/0a6699a3-8e69-419c-8ef3-c5fa5a339fc5/audrey-hepburn-in-sabrina.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/1b131f8b-8700-4cc5-b06f-0af343bb1939/Natural-products-1024x701.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/a0d9e75c-f040-44c2-9382-308067ed2e74/32pZxnQE4rcxgWv9KSstG67fb100r2kd1577483042.webp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a2081ad6909417d6ac6bb32/da35c5dc-769b-47be-b3c6-2f513b85f097/ancient%2Bgreek%2Bfood%2Beating%2Bhabbits.webp