Lots going on
I have a lot going on but I will begin posting again soon.
TIL then,
Nelliel
Nellielytu Approved “Best of” Awards – Pet Edition, 2025
Now that the hoopla of my last post has died down, there are a few items I want to mention regarding my pets. This one is sure to be a treat for all the cat lovers. I feel as though these items not only made my life better as it pertains to caring for my littles, but also made their lives more enjoyable overall. I dreamed that they would be outside and indoor kitties but it is just too dangerous in my area for that. Though they are on the larger side, they are still pretty small cats
Solid Gold Pet Probiotic – When I initially added this probiotic to my cats’ food, they loved it! It added a new range of flavors to their meals and I also know that it is very, very good for their tummies. My cats used to throw up a lot. This probiotic helps to regulate their digestion and adds additional flavors and nutrients to their already robust and diverse diet. I can tell that they notice when it is not mixed into their meal. In addition, I think that it might have some benefits for their teeth.
One Fast Cat – Cat Wheel – This was so pricey to me and such a space suck, but my cats have loved having this in the home. Now, they have a dedicated space to run in and my girl always sits on the wheel. Whenever I am near by, she runs on it. It is so fun to watch her do it and to “help” her. She even started doing some tricks. Like jumping as deep into the wheel as she can and then running at a pretty fast speed when lands, so if you have Maine coon cats, I believe this type of toy is really beneficial to their wellbeing. Mine cost 200 dollars but I do not regret it at all.
Pine Pellets – I’ve been using pine pellets for my cats litter since I adopted them. The pine does not mask the odor of their poop, but the pine does smell amazing in my home. I think that the pine adds a lot to the space and is more comforting than regular litter, not only that, it is so cheap and good for the environment. The price of the pelletized litter did go up during covid, but it is still hard to beat at 8 dollars a bag. I use the composted litter on my roses and it has been a great benefit to my home.
Kindfull Food and Meal toppers – I was a big fan of Luvsome foods, but I am really enjoying how the Kindfull brand is beneficial to my babies as well. I think the range of options this brand has is pretty great and my cats always love the food no matter what flavor I pick up.
Quail Eggs – I started to get a little angsty when the cat parents that feed their pets duck heads and whole fish started showing up on my feed, but for some reason my cats won’t eat entrails from the Dekalb farmer’s market or baby chicks. I added some quail eggs to satisfy both myself and them. Their coats shine and they haven’t gotten sick even when forcibly intermingling with the cat colony outside of my home. I’ve been amazed.
Honorable Mention:
HomeoPet – this has been a Godsend. I did not have my blog when I first adopted my cats, however, I truly love this little line of over the counter meds for domestic pets. I think that it might have saved their lives. I was volunteering at a shelter when I met my cats, Nike and Addidas. They had really, really terrible colds, so bad that the shelter did not want them to leave. Their vet did not think it would go away, they even prescribed them Benadryl. When that did not work, I scoured the pet stores and found this line – their colds cleared up within a month. I think that is a long time, but it definitely chased the bug away.
Merry Christmas.
Nelliel Approved – “Best of”, Awards
A lot of life occurred in 2025, so much that I cannot blog about it all. I’ve considered vlogging some things, but I think that writing on my blog is truly the best medium for me right now.
I personally support each and every one of these recommendations. I have first hand experience with them. All things mentioned in this post have helped to make this year really great in some way and I want to share the experience with you. I hope that you take some time to either visit, purchase, or listen. Let me know if you feel similarly, have different opinions, or suggestions of your own. I’ve made this post specific to Atlanta as I am Atlanta based, however, most products or media can be found online, if there is something that must be done in person, please consider giving ATL a visit. 🙂
We’re full, but not so full these days.
Without further Ado.
Best of the year Nellielytu – ATLANTA 2025
Hair/Beauty/Skin
Most of my content has centered around this the entire time the website has been up, but I do have a products that I want to spotlight.
Lady Speed Stick Brazilian Mist Leave in Spray – I found this product at DOLLAR TREE of all places. I love the ingredient list, it works very well for my hair, it is super cheap (I go through a lot of this product as I use it as a daily refresh spray, so the price point is amazing. Pro tip: add aloe vera juice for additional moisture.) And the scent! It smells so much like Sol De Janiero (pistachio!) that it is hard to beat. The best, truly. A runner up would be Lola from Rio Rapunzel leave in. Also good but about 15x the price at my local Beauty Master.
Entertainment
Sinners. I know that everyone has been into SINNERS over the last year and I am no different. This movie was truly a treat – not too scary, fun, creative, well shot and acted. I love the use of imagination to create this work. I plan on seeing it again as they have brought it to IMAX for an additional showing. Woah!
Monster Rancher. What a blast from the past. I saw a post about this show mentioned on Threads (my newest social media obsession) and I knew that I had to watch it again. I have not been let down. UPN69 ahead of all the other stations with anime. Definitely worth a new watch.
Lupe Fiasco’s free concert in Boston. Lupe Fiasco and MIT hosted a concert in May with the Orchestra program and it was definitely worth flying in for. Anytime he posts about these types of events, try to check them out.
Interviews
I really love this man.
When I’m working, If I’m not listening to music, I’m listening to interviews/podcasts. I listened to this interview several times throughout the year and it is a good listen every time.
Food
Slim and Huskys. Best pizza on the planet this year! My love of the pizza that they serve is so great. The Rony, Roni, Rone is my go to. As I’m not a tomato eater, their pesto and Alfredo sauce is top tier. Add in that jalapeno cilantro dipping sauce and it is truly a treat.
Music
One Republic. Anything from them or from The Fray is on this list. Their music catalog got me through the workday on days where I’m doing a lot of data work.
Clothes
Rainbow Dresses. I love the simplicity of the standard rainbow dresses and you cannot beat the 10.00 price tag. The look good on everyone with a body con fit – just layer them with some thin heat tech and you are good to go for the winter. I’ve been trying this out during the late fall in ATL and it has served me well without having to pull out the chunky coats. I am just as sad as everyone else that the temps have been hovering around 35-45 degrees, but this combo has kept me well in the early mornings as I walk to work.
House Maintenance
Brookstone heating blanket – I have two of these and they are so helpful in the winter so I’m not running my heating bill through the roof. I have one for my bed and one for my couch.
Places to visit
ATL Botanical Garden – This is truly one of the best places to visit in Atlanta. I have been so many times over the last quarter – they have some of the best exhibits bar none (Alice in Wonderland) and the best winter light show in A.
Alibaba Vendors Review – Feather Crochet Hair feat Sexy Lady Hair & HoomyHair
A few years ago, feather crochet hair was alllllll the rage on my Instagram. As a visual person, I LOVE Instagram (and Pinterest), there is SO MUCH inspiration that can be found and studied on these two platforms. I have been trying new things with my hair and I found plenty of new ways of styling my curly hair via Instagram. As someone that does not go to the hairstylist anymore (they always want to cut someone’s hair off), I found that the crochet hair advertised was truly quite appealing. The price tag tho – 5 packs of crochet hair on QVR, or even Elfin, can run upwards of 300 dollars (check out Hotbraids, this hair is giving Curlsqueen quality in terms of fullness.) Plastic crochet hair can be purchased for less than 10! And the plastic crochet, when complete is pretty. I personally think that the straight hair crochet works much better than other styles of plastic hair. I’ve attached mostly straight plastic crochet below, however this YouTuber does have a lot of tutorials on curly crochet styles with plastic hair.
This one was done with human hair cut from their clip INS – I love that she upcycled. I do not like that plastic hair is polluting our land so badly, that is why using human hair is truly an advantage. And when it gets old, you can compost it.
India can some how keep her curly crochet braids nice for 6 weeks plus. Awesome.
The issue with the plastic hair is that it tangles sooo fast. I love curls and this type of plastic hair tangles the most. I had to stop purchasing plastic extension hair. Using it pushes strongly against my ethics. I prefer to recycle and reuse instead of tossing away. These two vendors, Sexy Lady Hair and HoomyHair have some of the most luscious curls available in human crochet.These vendors can make crochet out of any available hair type that they have for sale. All you have to do is ask – these two vendors are so friendly and responsive. I have more of an Indian curly texture naturally, so I bought these textures. DO NOT FORGET – the hair has been washed and set a certain way in the videos but when you style it at home, it will look different as they are set for sale.
Here is what the hair looks like. These pictures and videos convinced me to purchase – this tiktoker seems to sell similar hair.
Check em out if you like what you see. I LOVE these two vendors, I got the hair within two days of completion. NELLIEL APPROVED!
Travel Tips – Nelliel Style
Traveling as a woman on a budget can be so hard. Not only does it have a somewhat dangerous aire to it, but it can be so expensive. I really need to keep my money in check. Here are a few tips that keep me feeling happy and together whilst on the road to distant locations.
Emergen – C: I take my vitamins diligently, however, having some emergen -c on hand has saved me on many ‘o flight. Not only am I able to fend off migraines better (which are very common for me and love to get at me while at the airport) but also, all the nasty germs that can be encountered while traveling no longer stand a chance.
Sol de Janiero travel kit: I’m am a true Sol de Janiero lover! These kits keep me up lifted and smelling good while traveling without having to lug around my expensive smell goods. You can find these in store or at Ulta/Sephora/Amazon.com. The parent website has them, too.
Dollar Tree for other upkeep essentials: toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wipes (the lady speed stick is soo good) and snacks. They always have great knick knacks that aid with traveling (poopurri).
Other notes:
A lot of people like to travel with their expensive shizz, but I don’t. Take your cheaper items that you won’t be as angry if they are left behind. For example, an older set of headphones, a water bottle that costs a dollar, the older model console instead of the latest drop. Not only is this less eye catching to thieves, but I’m not as concerned about my goods as the latest is safely at home.
I keep my wardrobe minimal. Rewearing items, traveling with a well paired capsule, travel sized satchets of detergent, and a gain refresh spray are really great. Wearing basics really makes it very easy to pack light – in fact, I’m known to be someone that just has a book bag most of the time.
As I’m growing my hair, crochet styles are the best way to still look great without much effort. Who wants to spend hours in the mirror doing their hair when they can be out in the sun. Ygwigs has great crochet hair of all styles. I highly recommend.
Nelliel Nail Potion
I’ve been on a “crunchy” beauty kick for most of my life. Face masks made from Avocados, lemons, and blueberries were an important part of my childhood. Honey and egg hair masks were always my thing.
As I’ve gotten older, I have purchased from many big name beauty brands but still have a heart for homemade products. The efficacy is questionable but I’m pretty sure that this combination works. Maybe not quite as well as I would like, but I think it is the start of something quite good. Nail health and skin health combine here: – instead of my nails being short and stubby, they now grow out to medium length without much breakage. Please note, eating healthy and being healthy is also very important when it comes to beauty maintenance. When I was younger, my nails were so thick and my playmates used to complain about me scratching them on the playground. How my nails transformed into such brittle little things, I don’t know. Give this recipe a try if you are having similar issues. This works well as a hair serum, too, with a few modifications.
Same thumb, after a week and a half/two weeks of growth – 11/25/25
Keratin oil – strengthen nails (nails are keratin)
Jojoba oil (carrier/moisture/healing)
Meadowfoam seed oil – Moisturizing agent
Manuka oil(scent + stronger than tea tree/antimicrobial/fungus/etc)
Coconut oil (moisture/healing antibacterial)
Cedar wood or sandalwood – possible add for scent – for men
Vine Vida Cherosia 62 oil scent – smells like sol de janiero or Vine Vida Bum Bum scent
Lactic acid – exfoliant
Glycerin – additional moisture
This oil has been quite pleasant to use and I’ve really enjoyed making it.
Humanrace Skincare by Pharrell Williams
I think of this brand as a lower budget alternative to La Mer. Not only do the products contain similar ingredients but they are much, much more cost effective. I tried this skincare a little over two years ago, and I’ve watched them as they have updated the line little by little. And let’s be honest, Pharrell has truly great skin. Who would not want skin like his? I do think that I have pretty nice skin, but his is amazing! I hope to see it in person one day.
As I am aging, I thought about getting La Mer, however, the prices for the products are so high that I shopped around for alternatives. I do, truly like the products, however, I truly think that the real secret of La Mer’s efficacy lies in moisture and fermentation.
I think that Pharrell’s products in the Humanrace skincare line are good alternatives to La Mer. (I have tried La Mer, I think that the products are wonderful – just a note, if you decided to spring for La Mer, try the mattifying cream, that is my personal favorite. I do really love the HumanRace moisturizer, it does not make me overly greasy. I was a terrible oil slick during puberty, Niacinamide has changed my life.)
I tried this part of the line when it first launched and I was really pleasantly surprised and quite happy with the results. In fact, I am pretty sure that the moisturizer is meant to be a dupe of the La Mer moisturizer. The cleanser is not drying and I feel as though the products pair very nicely with other products in my skincare regime. I like to use the Retrograde gel cleanser as a full body cleanser as well. Have any of you tried Pharrell’s products line or do you think that he’s just trying to profit from his lovely skin and crazy slow aging?
Here is a video he made during covid speaking about the product launch:
Another of him and Tyler speaking about the products and how they take care of their skin:
Love him – both he and the products are Nelliel Approved!
Best Uniqulo Buys – Georgia FALL/Winter Approved!
Uniqlo is already out of most of these items (cringe) but I will say that they generally restock at least once during the season. I bought some of these items and have not regretted my purchase AT ALL. The heat tech gets me through the coldest of days on the MARTA system, in addition, I’m able to keep my fall and winter billing much lower by using them as pj’s (their leggings and a nice electric blanket make the sudden drops and cold snaps a real breeze to deal with.) A few winters ago, my heating bill had gotten close to $300.00 bucks. I’ve been able to keep it around $100.00 since investing in these pieces. Not only are these incredibly warm, they are stylish and timeless. The Japanese truly are innovative. I only have a few items listed because I invested in multiple colors.
HEATTECH Cashmere Blend T-Shirt | Extra Warm | Turtleneck
These shirts are soooo thin and easy to layer. I love the simplicity of them. They are so soooo warm despite how thin they are.
A nice pair of leggings to keep my thin legs super warm. These are a staple in my fall/winter wardrobe. I wear them under pants as well. They are so great at home while lounging, too. I have both black and gray. LOOOVEE. I also approve of the Heattech Tights, these have been so great around the office.
Planning to Buy:
HEATTECH Lined Gloves | Faux Suede
I have not purchased these, however, I do plan to get some. Cold hands ensure that the rest of me is cold and I would really like to get rid of that.
HEATTECH Pile Lined Sweatpants
I am more of a Nike fan when it comes to sweats, their design is just yum, however, they are NOT warm. These may have to replace my well loved Nikes, at least during the winter.
HEATTECH Souffle Yarn Neck Gaiter
These are so nice. I’m going to buy them in every color.
Honorable Mentions:
I have a North face coat that I got from Nordstrom rack several years ago, so I do do not need this. It is similar in style to my Northface coat and I think that it is also likely to be quite warm. The price tag for this kind of coat cannot be beaten. You can also hand wash these items and I think that is a great benefit to purchasing them instead of having to take them to the dry cleaners.
I really hate when scarves are just pieces of fabric and they don’t really assist with blocking the cold. I have so many scarves that I have not gotten one of these, but I do think that I will purchase one eventually if they have the same benefits as the other heattech items.
No fall nor winter wardrobe is complete without timeless pieces from Uniqlo. Uniqlo is NELLIEL APPROVED.
Artist Spotlight – Youtubers
I have been on a YouTube kick for many years. 10 or so years ago, I found out about vlogging. I wanted to try my hand at it, however, my life just isn’t conducive to it. I have, however, found many, many YouTubers that have brought joy and laughter into my life in ways unexpected. I really appreciate YouTube, not only for existing, but for introducing me to these good people and giving them a platform to create in such ways.
During this time, the vloggers I watch have changed, however, I have been enjoying the ones listed below for almost 5 years now. Though they may not be in my life forever in this capacity, I do really like their work and growth. I’m sharing as I hope that you will enjoy them as much as I have.
AllyiahsFace
This vlogger has a lot of travel and fashion content. I really enjoy her personality and sense of style. I would say that she fits into a more LUXE niche, however, she puts a nice mix on the types of topics that she explores via her content. There is a lot of shopping, nail, and hair talk. She is very up on the trends and fashion. I loved that she was Atlanta based, however, she is now in New York and abroad most of the time. Her aesthetic is similar to my own. She is in her early thirties and seems to be thriving. She is so fun to watch.
Instagram – TikTok – Youtube – Pinterest
KirahOmnique
Kirah makes similar content to the aforementioned vlogger, however, these two vloggers could not be more different. I love that Kirah’s honesty. She is so fun and unique. Kirah also makes a lot of travel and beauty content. I have not watched her as frequently, however, it is so dope to see the city of Atlanta feature in her vlogs so much. She is a laugh riot, insightful, always has some cool restaurants featured, and most recently worked with Beyonce (whoa!) on a Cecred campaign.
Gimmick or the real deal? Face Sculpting/Wrapping
I think it is real. I say this from personal experience and use. There are a number of ways to do face sculpting – face yoga, gua sha, lymphatic drainage, which generally includes fingers and oil, and one of my favorites, just because of the ease, face wrapping. I think that this trend started in Korea, but I am not really sure. There is evidence that this is mostly related to post-op care, and Korea is VERY big into plastic surgery, but I’m all for anything that makes taking care of myself (both internally and externally, easy).
Reusable face wraps went so viral when SKIMS released their version earlier this year, but I found mine at Marshalls many years ago. I’m gonna be honest, doesn’t seem like many doctors are in favor of these. I like the one I have, however, the wrap has loosened over the years from hasty application prior to bed. I think that when combined with eating healthy, working out, and lymphatic drainage, it has great benefit.
What do you all think? Trendy accessory or beneficial? I got mine for about 4 dollars – I think it is time for a new one as it has stretched out over the years. I don’t want to spend 50+ dollars on this type of item, so I’ll do more research before a splurge like this one. One thing that I really like about the Kardashians is that they do their best to make parts of their lifestyles more accessible to the public when it comes to the beauty arena. There are similar ones on Alibaba and Shein. I’ll probably give this one a try soon.
I’m going to give this a thumbs up as a Nelliel Approved beauty tool.