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Is Permanent Jewelry Worth It?

One of the not so new trends on the jewelry scene is the concept of permanent jewelry, which is a bracelet — or anklet, necklace, ring — that is welded to you. Many of these pieces are often small, dainty ones, rather than chunky pieces, and are done with gold fill, sterling silver, or even 14k gold metals.

Now, what is a permanent bracelet?

What makes a piece of jewelry permanent is the fact that it is welded, or “zapped” together with a jump ring.

Last month, I got a permanent bracelet in the name of research of my piece about Interlinked Jewelry, which was a fantastic experience, and I absolutely love the piece. I have a hamsa charm on the chain, and it’s something that I love because I believe that it brings me so much good luck and energy.

When I got my permanent bracelet done a month ago, there were two friends in front of me that got matching anklets as a friendship bracelet. I think getting something like that truly adds meaning to a trend, because truly, it’s a grown up version of a friendship bracelet made out of knotted embroidery floss.

That being said, there are pros and cons to added a piece of permanent jewelry to your stack.

The pros?

Well, there’s no clasps, since it is welded on. No more fighting with clasps, and having to find someone to put the bracelet on for you. Furthermore, there are no worries about metal allergies, as these type of bracelets are in fact made of precious metals (which can be good to note when going through airport security).

A strange thing that I do love about this bracelet is that it saves you so much time in the morning. If you take away from the fact that you’re not trying to put something on, there is also the fact that you don’t have to think about these bracelets. They are there, and you just have a little hint of sparkle always with you.

The cons?

I think the biggest con is that they can be destroyed when going through a medical procedure/emergency. Since it is welded on you, it can get cut off. However, if you’re able to save the chain, then many places can put it back on for you.

I get it, though. Permanent jewelry is something that is a trend and is not for everyone. There are people out there in the world who need to remove all of their jewelry prior to going to sleep. However, this is a trend that I love, and definitely am glad that I jumped on with two feet.

Do you have a piece of permanent jewelry?

September Empties

Yes, I know that I’m a little late for this, but I’m finally hopping on here to talk about all of the products that I went through during the month of September. I’m so happy to report that I’ve been going through quite a bit of my products, and have finished a few more than normal.

Into the Night Bath and Body Works Shower Gel: With this being finished, I finally am on the last product in my Bath and Body Works stockpile. I loved this scent, and I am hoping to eventually grab it again once I run out of the last one.
Moroccan Oil Color Complete Shampoo: I love using Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner once a week to help bring moisture in to my hair and prevent dryness. I have the color complete one solely because my mother in law, who actually colors her hair, uses it. I do like this brand, however, I don’t recommend (at least for me) to use this daily.
Summer Fridays Vanilla Beige Lip Gloss: This was the Summer Fridays Lip Gloss that started my whole obsession. I love this product, and while I didn’t replace this exact one, I am obsessed with the regular Vanilla one, as it doesn’t have much of a tint.
Cancer Moon Healing Spray: I have been using this for over a year, and I’m actually sad that this spray is now finished. I already have a backup that I am using, and I find it so helpful. I am a cancer, and the healing properties for this one are to give love and support, something that I use when I’m feeling down and in need of extra TLC. I highly recommend getting a bottle of this, or any of their healing sprays, because I find that they really give you whatever you may need.
Sleepy time Roller Ball: I have been having issues with sleeping for a while, and while I can’t find thing one online, I highly recommend using essential oils if you’re having trouble with sleep, or trying to fall asleep, because I found that it helps.
Aquaphor Lip Balm: Yes, I love lip balms. This has been my go-to for the last few months, and yes, I already have a backup that I have been using regularly. I love this because it moisturizes my lips without leaving them too greasy. I am sure that I will be going through this a lot quicker as the fall and winter season come and my lips are screaming for moisture.
Tree Hut Birthday Cake Scrub: I love, love, love Tree Hut scrubs. No, I don’t have a stash of this that I constantly go through. However, I do use it pretty regularly. It is so wonderful on my skin. While I can see the hype of this product, and highly recommend it, I recommend only buying one at a time.

September Faves

It is the first day of October, and for the first time in years, I have decided not to participate in Blogtober. While I am appreciative of all the opportunities that I have had through participating, I am not appreciative of the added pressure. So, instead, we’re going to reflect on my favorites over the month of September.

Coach Cary Shoulder Bag: This bag is my new go-to, and I am obsessed with this one. It is so roomy, and I like that you can wear it both crossbody and as a shoulder bag. I have it in the dark stone, and I absolutely love it, as it is the perfect neutral.
The Perfect Couple: I read this book a few years ago, and I absolutely loved it. I also really enjoyed the show. I didn’t binge it, but once I was in an episode, I couldn’t stop watching.
Jenny Bird Gia Bangle: This bracelet has been in my stacks for the last couple of weeks since I picked it up. I love this because it is both chunky and dainty, if that makes sense. It is also really comfortable for me to wear.
Over the Influence by JoJo: If you’ve been here for a while, you know that I am a huge JoJo fan. I read her memoir this month, and I enjoyed every word. It opened my eyes as JoJo the person, and a lot about the behind the scenes of the music scene. I highly recommend checking this out, even if you did not listen to JoJo as a kid.
Air and Anchor Necklaces: I have been wearing mine since I purchased this during my one-year anniversary trip. I recently added a longer chain to my collection, and I have been obsessed. I love layering them together, and they are definitely my go-to jewelry pieces.
Coach Essential Slim Card Case: I am obsessed with this card case. I love it because my cards are so organized, and I can find whatever I need with ease. However, it is still small enough that it fits in tiny bags as well as large. It is a simple wallet — no branding, just leather, but functional.

Friday Faves: September 27, 2024

TGIF! It has been a long week, so I am so so happy to report that it’s Friday! I have a bridal shower for a good friend of mine this weekend, so I am so excited to celebrate my friend.

However, before we commence the weekend, I want to take a moment to share my favorites for this week.

Over the Influence by JoJo: JoJo was my favorite singer for as long as I can remember. I have loved her music since I was 11 years old. Needless to say, her memoir was on preorder so quick for me. I have been loving and savoring this book, since she is my favorite artist. However, reading this has made me see her as much more than JoJo the one that wrote the songs I loved as a preteen. It made me see her as JoJo the person, the human, and her strength. I absolutely am loving this one.

Coach Essential Slim Wallet: This has turned into my new favorite wallet. I absolutely love it. I love the organization and being able to just slip out my card without having to dig through. I love how sleek it looks. I also just love the simplicity of it. I 10/10 recommend.

The Perfect Couple: I read the book last year, and I have been binging the series for the last few weeks. I loved the book, and I enjoyed the series. The actors were excellent, and I just love Elin Hilderbrand in general.

The Happy Planner: I have been an inconsistent planner user over the course of my lifetime. However, I decided to get a Happy Planner to help me keep track of things, especially since I have been forgetting so much lately. So far, I’ve been really enjoying having all of my appointments at my fingertips, and it’s been easy to remember what I need to do.

Reading Is Supposed to Be Fun…Right?

I’ve been a reader for as long as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, I was the girl always with a stack of books in hand, found solstice in the library in high school, and I even majored in writing with the hopes of writing my very own book.

My love for reading continued as an adult, and grew when I got my Nook and Kindle. It further expanded when I got a bookstagram account, and connected with readers all around the world who would review their books or take the time to create artsy photos with books. To this day, I still regularly watch booktube, where people vlog about their reading experiences, and I would pull up Goodreads to add what they were reading if it sounds good to my TBR.

However, for the last few months, I have found myself struggling to pick up a book and keep a book in my hands. I swear it’s not the book’s fault — it’s mine. I would find myself scrolling on TikTok after reading a few pages. I would only get through 10 pages before I would close the book for whatever reason.

Because of this, reading has become a chore to me in some ways in the efforts to try to reach my Goodreads goal. I had been behind several books. And the more that I become behind in my goal, the more overwhelmed I would then become.

It is then I ask myself this question: isn’t reading supposed to be fun? Isn’t this supposed to be a hobby that I enjoy to relax, not give me stress and anxiety?

Well, yes. No one is forcing me to read a book, nor am I getting graded on it. Especially since I’m not a book influencer, and reading is something that I do because I enjoy it. I don’t make money reviewing books, nor do I create bookish YouTube videos. Add in the fact that I also work full time, and have other hobbies than reading.

The funny thing about consuming so much book content is the comparison aspect. Oh, that person is finishing 4 books a week, why can’t I? Or when I compare myself to how I was reading last year, a time when I took the train to and from work and had a lot of time to read. I also got married last year and read a lot on my honeymoon, and read a lot in the pool.

However, what I’ve come to realize is that my time reading is changing, as things do in life. That is perfectly okay. The worst thing I can do is force myself to pick up a book. After all, I had a lot of assigned reading as an English major — the last thing that I need to do is continue to force myself to do so when I am not graded or even forced to.

I’ve entered a new season of life, and that is okay. That season is going to be spent doing all of different things, not just spending in a book. It doesn’t mean I no longer love reading. It just means that I am not forcing myself to read when it doesn’t feel right.

After all, reading is supposed to be fun and that’s no question.

Milford’s Mind Body & Soul Wellness Offers Healing for All the Layers of You

As I stepped into the new Mind, Body, & Soul Wellness LLC, I was instantly filled with amazing healing energy. The wellness center just opened its doors last week, and the owner, Milford-born Jennifer Paskiewicz could not be more thrilled to open her business in her hometown.

Paskiewicz got the idea for the center back in May, when a family member was diagnosed was cancer, and another loved one was battling an autoimmune disease. She was looking for a space that had it all and decided to create that.

“My loved ones needed a place,” she said. “So I decided to build it.”

The wellness center offers many different services to, like its name, heal the mind, body, and soul. Currently, the wellness center offers halotherapy (dry salt room), Infared sauna, red light therapy, reiki, and psychotherapy. Booking for the salt room, Infared sauna, and red-light therapy are available online, while bookings for reiki can be done over the phone.

“These are different ways to heal a person,” Paskiewicz said.

There are many benefits to starting these types of therapy. Halotherapy, which is dry salt, can help with respiratory issues, allergies, ear infections, reducing stress and anxiety, and more. The Infared sauna also reduces stress, improves circulation, balances blood sugar, and overall just detoxes the body — just to name a few. Red light therapy has many benefits, including: skin rejuvenating, pain relief and offer an enhanced way to improve overall health in a noninvasive way. However, Paskiewicz urges consulting your doctor before starting any treatment.

Paskiewicz is a therapist who specializes in trauma, anxiety, and depression. Many of the services that she offers are the same things she suggests for her clients, as she very well “practices what she offers” herself.

“I’m a walk-the-walk therapist,” she said. “All of the things I offer, I do.”

Over the weekend, I had visited Mind, Body, and Soul Wellness. I had never been to an actual salt room before, so this experience was calming for both my body and mind. This salt room has meditation music playing throughout our 30-minute session, which allowed me to close my eyes and just relax. Dry salt rooms are amazing, especially during this time of year, when cold, flu, and allergy season begins to commence.

There were two things that I really enjoyed about my visit to Mind, Body, and Soul Wellness. The first was the decor. I found everything to be so calming, from the simplicity of the salt room to even the decor of the lobby. The second was Jennifer herself. When I went, my mother-in-law and my husband had joined me. Jennifer was more than happy to accommodate the three of us and walked us through the process. We all had a lot of questions about the services she offered, and she was extremely informative and passionate about everything that she was saying. I also really enjoyed her energy that she projected to those around her.

I definitely will be returning to Mind, Body, and Soul Wellness soon.

Yes, I Am A Husband’s Girl, And I’m Perfectly Okay With It

I am one of those fortunate people out there who is lucky enough to have a spouse that doubles as my best friend. I’ve been with my husband since 2017, and we’re one of those people who always do things together even after the wedding vows were said last year.

Needless to say, my husband and I do a lot together. He also is the person who I look to for support, and yes, even gossip. I call him when I’m driving home from work. We tell each other secrets, make jokes, and yes, make sure that we have some fun stuff planned because we genuinely love to spend time together. He is truly, as I mentioned earlier, my best friend.

And I am perfectly okay with that. In fact, I am actually proud of that if I’m going to be honest.

In high school and college, I’ve had friends that spent all of their time with their boyfriends. While I agree that sometimes too much of any one thing can be a bad thing, I also think that it’s okay to spend a lot of time with the person with whom you’ve elected to be your partner. In fact, I hate it when people use that as a way to cut down someone or insult them, either out of jealousy or as being insecure in their own lives.

And that is not to say that my husband and I don’t have our own friends, interests, and things that we like to do on our own. My husband likes to do fantasy football. I like to go to book clubs. Those are things that we like to do with the people that share the same interests, and then we go home and talk about it. We are supportive of that other person doing things that make them happy.

We do not, in any way, shape or form, prevent the other from doing the things that we like to do. Nor do we isolate the other from making new friends or seeing existing ones. I think that’s the key here.

So yeah. Proud husband’s girl over here, raising my hand loud and proud.

Interlinked Jewelry Uses Permanent Jewelry to Link Us All Together

Permanent jewelry has been a trend over the last few years, and something that makes having a piece of jewelry — whether that may be a necklace, anklet, bracelet, or ring — always with you. For some, this is a symbol; for others, it’s a friendship bracelet. Interlinked Jewelry, based in North Haven, Conn., brings the fun and sentimentality of permanent jewelry.

Run by a wonderful woman named Jackie, there are two ways to get a piece from them. The first is to go to a pop-event. Jackie is at a lot of events — from the Milford and Walnut Beach Farmers Market to the Norwalk Oyster Festival. She posts her whereabouts on her Instagram page and is all over the state. The second is to make an appointment at her North Haven studio.

When approaching the table, there are two small boxes with various chains to choose from, with one side being silver and the other gold. In the middle, there are a few little jars filled with charms that you can customize your bracelets with. In the corner, Jackie is there with her tool kit for assembly.

Now, what makes these bracelets permanent? A permanent bracelet is welded or zapped on. Depending on the options you choose, it just takes a simple zap for these bracelets to be a part of you.

With that being said, just because it is a permanent bracelet does not mean it is never going to come off of you. I asked this question, just in case something happens and I need to take all of my jewelry off for a medical procedure. Jackie said that these can be removed with simple nail clippers. What I thought was really awesome about Interlinked Jewelry was that Jackie will be more than happy to meet up with you to fix it should something happen. Having that lifetime warranty makes me as the consumer feel so much better about my purchase.

The prices for a bracelet is not expensive. As mentioned earlier, Jackie offers sterling silver and gold-filled. Sterling silver is $40 and gold-fill is $55. To add a charm, it costs $15, and she even gives the option to add a clasp if you so choose. Honestly, if this is something that you wear every single day, the cost per wear becomes pennies within a few months.

I got one bracelet, and I absolutely loved the process. There were two best friends in front of me who got matching anklets, which I thought was really amazing. I opted for a sterling silver chain and a hamsa charm. Once I picked out the bracelet that I wanted, Jackie really took her time to make sure that the fit was exactly how I wanted it, as well as something that would be comfortable for me to wear. We tried a few different length sizes before settling on the one that we zapped on. She was so fun to talk with, and the process itself took less than 15 minutes. However, it was just so much fun to just sit and chat with her. She even handed me a little cleaning cloth to keep my bracelet looking perfectly shiny. The process was easy and painless.

Overall, if you’re considering getting a permanent bracelet, I highly recommend checking Interlinked Jewelry out, because she was a joy to work with from start to finish.

August Empties

I have a long list of products that I went through the month of August, guys. I am working on my own version of a project pan, so I’m glad that I got the chance to get through some of the things that have been in my stash for far too long.

Here is everything that I have used this month:

Biondi Boost HG Conditioner: I love this conditioner and use both this and the shampoo regularly. I have used it for well over a year and have noticed a huge difference in my hair since starting to use in terms of thickness and health.

Fenty Liquid Eye Liner in Big Truffle: I love this eye liner. I love the color and it lasted for almost a year before drying. I already repurchased it and it’s been in heavy rotation. This, by far, has been in huge rotation.

Olaplex Number 3: This is a TikTok product that has been talked about for a while. I got this for free with some Sephora points since I wanted to see what the hype was. I liked it, but I am not sure if I want to go ahead and repurchase.

Bath and Body Works Shower Gel: These have been my go-tos, and I have been trying to use up all of the products that I have in my Bath and Body Works stash of goodies.

OSEA Body Polish Scrub: This was my free Ulta gift for my birthday month, and I enjoyed this product, but I will not be purchasing it again. Because I have such dry skin, I prefer a scrub that is a little heavier, so I don’t think that this is something that would work.

Tree Hut Lotion: I love this body butter, and it truly lasts for a long time, so I’m happy to get through this one. I am using up something that I got as a birthday gift, so once I finish that one, I will be repurchasing another body butter.

Biondi Boost HG Intensive Spray: I have been using this for almost two years at this point, and this is a Holy Grail product for me. It has helped me have thicker and fuller hair, which is the reason why I love it so much.

August 2024 Favorites

As the sun sets on the last night of August and the last night of summer (well, kinda), I am sitting here in disbelief that we are in fall of 2024. Is it me, or this year flew by quickly?

Before looking ahead at the wonderful fall season, I want to take a moment to reflect on my favorites for the month of August.

Elin Hilderbrand Books: I picked the perfect time of year to begin getting through Elin Hilderbrand books. She is the queen of the summer beach read. This month, I managed to get through two of her books — one of them being my favorite read of the summer and a top for the year, Golden Girl. In fact, that’s one of the books that has stayed with me, even though it’s been a few weeks since I’ve read the book. I still have a few to get through of hers, but I definitely will be reading more as time goes on.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: Other than Golden Girl, this was one of my favorite books that I read this month. It is about Margo, who decides to have a baby at 20. She drops out of her college, and then loses her job. This book was really entertaining, but also managed to leave me with something to think about. I highly recommend reading this one, if you haven’t already.

Coach Brooklyn 28: This bag is viral, but it is for good reason. I sold a few bags to get this one, and this one is one that I have not changed out of since the day it got home. I got it in the maple color, and I absolutely love it. I also have it in black, but I am still obsessing over the gorgeous Maple color, which is absolutely perfect for the fall season.

Coach City Tote: I have had to take a step back from going to the gym this month, and I’ve been using this bag as my daily work tote. It reminds me of the Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote, but a more carefree version. I can fit everything from my crocheting, to my lunch, to a few other things without a problem.

Baggu Tablet Case: This guy is a little bit too big for my Kindle Paperwhite, but I still really love it. I love that it’s padded so it gives it an extra layer of protection, which for my emotional support Kindle is absolutely needed. You can also fit legitimate tablets in here, but this also works for Kindles as well.

Avril Lavigne: I went to see Avril Lavigne this past month, and it sent me down a rabbit hole of nostalgia. I have been listening to her albums almost daily at this point. She is the second-best concert that I have seen this year, and I was really happy that I got a chance to see her.

Collective Soul: Now this is the best concert that I’ve seen this year. Collective Soul is a band that has meant so much to me. When I was dealing with my anxiety to the point where driving was not feasible, listening to them helped so much. In fact, when I would feel anxiety coming on, I would listen to Shine to help me get through those intense moments.

Air and Anchor Necklaces: For the second month in a row, Air and Anchor necklaces have been my go-tos. I wear the two I have together — or I just wear one at a time. I have an amethyst charm on one of them, and it brings me so much peace whenever I wear it. I highly recommend them if you’re looking for durable and completely customizable jewelry.

Emerson and Oliver Bracelets: Another jewelry favorite this month is these bracelets. I absolutely love them. And what’s really cool about them is that they offer a free five bracelet starter set, where all you have to do is pay for shipping. These, like the Air and Anchor necklaces are built to be worn 24/7. They are perfect for the office, because while they are stackable, they are not loud and they do not make noise. Therefore, they are perfect if you want to wear these to the office.

Too Faced Pumpkin Spice Second Slice Eye Shadow Palette: To quote Richard Gilmore, I am an autumn. I got this palette a few years ago for my wedding, and in the effort to use it up before it goes bad, I have been experimenting with it. I absolutely love the colors. I love the variety, and the colors look amazing on me. Unfortunately, this one is no longer available on Ulta, but you can find it here.