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.
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.
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.
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.
Hey, British Vogue. My name is Natalie and here is what’s in my bag. The bag in question is the Coach Brooklyn Shoulder 28 shoulder bag in the gorgeous and sold out maple color.
Before we continue, can I just swoon over the color?! It is the most gorgeous chocolate brown that I’ve seen, and is sold out for a reason. However, I would check out Dillards and Macy’s. They also have this bag in black, the new ruby, dark stone, suede, and a neutral color, as well as a like green that looks like is seasonal. I also somehow got the black one, and am so happy that I did now that I know how much I love, love, love this bag.
When I got this bag, I was so excited and changed it immediately. The leather on it so soft and supple, it is super comfortable to wear, and fits everything I need on a daily basis. It is truly the perfect medium sized bag.
I’ve only had it for a few weeks, but I absolutely love this bag to the point where I am considering getting the larger size, the Brooklyn 39, at some point. I recently sold some bags, so I was able to add the Brooklyn size 23 in my collection, which will be a perfect neutral errand bag.
So far, I can see that this will be an amazing everyday bag, especially as we enter the cooler months.
So, here’s what’s in my bag;
Vintage Coach wristlet (I believe it is called the Ashley?)
Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette
Kindle Paperwhite in a Baggu Tablet pouch
My work badge (not pictured)
My phone (also not pictured)
Loose lip gloss, such as Summer Fridays in Vanilla Beige; ELF lipstick and Lip oil.
There is a special place in my heart for stories that have a Connecticut setting. Jane Green, Marissa D’Angelo’s Charles Island, and more have been books that I know and loved. So when I found the book, Falling for Fairfield by Olivia Berry, I knew that this would be something that I wanted to pick up.
Falling for Fairfield is a short little novel that tells the story of Emma, who at the start of the novel has fallen out of love with her big NYC ad exec lifestyle. Fed up, she quits her job and has her sights set on small town Fairfield. Emma opens her own business, in which she begins to accumulate local small businesses to promote.
This book is the type that you can devour in one setting. It is also the type of book that if you’re from Fairfield or know Fairfield, you can actually picture the locations in the book. Berry is a Fairfield native, and mentions several real life places such as the Fairfield Theater Company, Merritt Parkway, Fairfield University, and Sakura Garden. There were many places throughout the course of the book that were unnamed, but were one of those if you know, you know type of places.
I thought that this was a fun read, and honestly enjoyed reading this one. I loved the transformation of Emma, and the journey that our protagonist goes through from start to finish. While there is a romance in the novel, I believe that it takes a back seat to the love letter that novel is to the Town of Fairfield.
That said, if I’m going to be honest, this book is reminiscent of a Hallmark Channel movie. There were a ton of cliche, cheesy moments, and had the same formula as those movies — girl moves from the big city to a small town; falls in love with a local guy; and becomes a huge fixture in the small town that she recently moved to. That said, while it was cheesy and wholesome, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy this book. I had so much fun reading it, and it’s something that I am happy to get to.
While I enjoyed this book for the most part, I will say that there was not a lot of conflict with this one. The tiny amount of conflict was there was an issue throughout the story when Emma tried to get a roommate, but it didn’t work out. That potential roommate kept on appearing throughout the book, which I liked, because it’s something that does happen in a small town. That said, I felt that this was forced conflict that was sprinkled in, and didn’t really enjoy that.
And like all Hallmark movies, everything was super happy and tied with a neat bow. Some people are not fans of that, but for me, that is something that you just need in either a book or movie format. I feel like when you’re picking up a book like this, it’s part of the expectation of it to be that way.
Overall, I give this one 3 stars. Falling for Fairfield is a self-published book, but is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
When I walked into 7 Seas in Downtown Milford, Conn., I felt like I was walking into something that resembled a cross of both Luke’s Diner and the bar in Cheers where everyone knows your name. 7 Seas has been a part of the Milford community since 1965. Between the old-fashioned wood paneled walls to the various knickknacks collected throughout the years, 7 Seas has and continues to be a casual and cozy place to enjoy.
7 Seas is definitely a small little place, but comes with a ton of history. According to the about section on the website, the building was originally an old garage that was converted to a restaurant. That being said, 7 Seas is not the first restaurant to occupy the Daniel Street space. According to the website, there were a few other restaurants that came before 7 Seas called the location home.
The website also says that the name 7 Seas comes from owner, Richard Smith’s navy days, and since its inception, it has been named Best Neighborhood Restaurant by Connecticut Magazine in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
However, something that I thought was really interesting was the fact that several famous people had visited this restaurant — including Dan Patrick and Paul Newman.
Now, enough about the history, and let’s talk about the menu. When I visited, my husband and I were enjoying a simple lunch date. The menu consisted of bar staples such as wings, burgers, appetizers, and chicken tenders. But that is not what they are truly known for — the most famous thing on their menu is their lobster roll, which the menu names it as “famous.”
However, they have dinner options (served after 5 p.m.), several different types of chicken, seafood that the menu claims that it was “so fresh that it slept in the ocean last night,” and so much more. Many of their items are very classic, very New England, and I am here for it.
One thing that really impressed me about this place was the portion sizes. They were massive. I got the charbroiled chicken sandwich, and not only was the sandwich huge, but they loaded the plate with fries. For me, having a good sized portion is something that is important as your girl would like to get some bang for her buck.
In addition to the sandwich, I had the opportunity to try some of their chili. It was delicious and hearty, but boy oh boy, was she spicy.
The only downside of 7 Seas in my opinion is the parking; however, there are many free options to choose from as long as you’re willing to do a little bit of walking. Personally, the Downtown Milford area is a great place to walk around in so it’s worth taking a stroll around to check out the small businesses in the area.
Overall, 7 Seas in Milford is a beloved establish in the Milford community and for good reason, due to delicious food and comforting ambiance. I am already looking forward to my next visit.
TGIF everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve had enough items to sit down and write a list of my favorites for the week. Some of it is because of the fact that I have had some of the same favorite and I didn’t want to become repetitive. However, I finally decided to sit down and write a list of my favorites for this week, with the warning that some of these are repeat offenders.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: I absolutely loved this book. This is something that is a little out of my comfort zone when it comes to my usual reading diet. It is about Margo, who got pregnant from her professor and decided to keep the child. This story goes on the journey where she tries to survive.
Emerson and Oliver Bracelets: These bracelets have become one of my most-worn pieces this summer. They are comfortable. They are silent, so they are perfect for daily wear, and are even able to be worn working and swimming. I am obsessed with them. My favorites are the Dia, the moon, and the zodiac. I will be adding more to my collection, but I love, love, love these bracelets.
Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28: The TikTok girlies were right about this one. I sold a few bags to grab this one, and to be honest, I am so glad that I did. I have already used this way more than the bags that I sold. Coach has been making a huge comeback, and I think this bag is going to be in the rotation. That being said, I did buy it in Maple, and I highly recommend it if you can get your hands on one.
Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand: I love, love, loved this one. It was so emotional, but I could not put it down. Elin Hilderbrand is an author that I am trying to work through her backlog of books, and this one is by far my favorite.
Baggu Tablet Case:I have been wanting to get one of these for a while and I finally decided to grab one. I love this for my Kindle, and I am so happy that I was able to get this.
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag2L: I’ve had this bag for a few years now, and I am happy to report that it is still going strong. I love the fact that it’s a belt bag, but it is a large enough size where I can fit my Kindle.
Charlotte Tilbury Eye Potion in Oyster Pearl: Last but not least, is the Charlotte Tillbury eye potion, which is basically just really well formulated creamy eye shadow. I really love the shade, and it goes on so well. I definitely see myself using this regularly.
Crystals were just the starting point of the healing journey at Scorp Zone in Milford, Conn. The metaphysical wellness store had recently introduced three new therapy rooms — red light therapy, infrared sauna, and halo (salt) therapy.
The benefits to these healing rooms are amazing and have a long list of ailments that they can help heal. There are three options to these healing rooms: infrared sauna with halo therapy; red light and halo therapy; or just plain ol’ salt therapy.
John, one of the owners of the shop, says that these rooms are like a “toothbrush for your lungs,” as they are a “good detox” for the body. These rooms are one of the latest ways Scorp Zone has grown to become an overall healing experience and promote self care.
“If you don’t take care of your body, what are you doing,” he said. “This is taking care of your body. You want to be able to do stuff.”
But what are the benefits to these? Let me break it down for you:
Red Light/Salt Therapy Room
Red light therapy, according on to their website,works by acting on the skin’s powerhouse. When these cells get more energy, the other cells in the body can do their work “more effectively.” The benefits of red light therapy include: reducing fine lines, age spots, and wrinkles; reduce stretch marks; reduces pain and inflammation; and more.
Infrared Sauna therapy uses heat therapy to further penetrate and heal the tissues in the body. In an infrared sauna, 20 percent of the air goes to heating the air while the rest goes to heating towards the body, and unlike traditional saunas, they penetrate the body more deeply. It is extremely recommended that prior to entering the sauna to ensure that you’re hydrated both before and after treatment. Please note that if you have cardiac diseases, such as high blood pressure, as well as other conditions to proceed with caution.
Salt (halo) therapy uses micro-sized salt particles in a small booth that mimic the healing properties of a salt cave. These particles create an antibacterial environment, which dry out excess moisture such as mucus and skin impurities. While relaxation, this is also works to assist to reduce inflammation and break up and clear mucus. With allergy, cold and flu season fast approaching, this is definitely one that I think will be essential.
I recently took a visit with my mother-in-law, and was able to relax in their salt room. Appointments can be made online; however, I was able to walk in and get in right away. The staff at Scorp Zone were really helpful to not only making the process easy, but also were there to answer any questions we may have had.
The experience was like none other. I have never been to a salt cave, but have heard about the benefits from them and have wanted to try visiting one. Once we paid, we were led to the back rooms, where we were able to set up and soak in the benefits. The salt only therapy lasted for 20 minutes, however the others can be up to 45 depending on which you go with.
All of the different color options for chromotherapy
What I thought was really cool was the fact that they had the option for Bluetooth speakers to allow for any kind of audio, such as music, podcasts, or even YouTube videos. To further set a relaxing tone before the experience, you are able to choose the color of the light in the booth based on what you need the most healing for, and can change it through the 20-minute experience as desired. We started off with the green, which helps relaxation, then continued to the blue one, which stimulated the circulation system, and ended with violet, which assists with relaxing the nerves and the lymphatic systems.
When I left the salt room, I could feel a wave of relaxation enter my body that continued for the rest of the day. That night, I was able to drift into a rejuvenating sleep, as well as feeling extremely calm, and at peace. I had a little bit of congestion, which was gone as well when leaving the salt room. As for my mother-in-law, she was also left feeling calm, and no longer congested.
These therapeutic rooms are only the beginning of the healing services that Scorp Zone will be offering. I am so excited to see what’s next for these amazing business, but do plan to make it back for another halotherapy session.
Lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag is one of my go-tos, and it’s a popular bag that is one hundred percent worth the hype. It is my go-to whenever I am running errands, hiking, or even for travel.
However, they decided to take this popular bag and created the perfect everyday bag — the Lululemon Everywhere Crossbody Bag.
Coming in at $78, the Lululemon Everywhere Crossbody bag has a capacity of 2L and comes in five colors — a mauvy pink, gray, black, green, and white. It has two different compartments, a removable strap, and a back pocket.
I’ve had this bag for a while, and I am really enjoying using it. It is the perfect bag for everyday use, but I can also see this bag being perfect for travel, because you can truly bring it from day to night. And since the strap is removable, you can easily switch the look with other straps.
What I also love about this bag is how spacious it is. I have the Everywhere Belt Bag in all three sizes, and one of the downsides of the popular 1L for me is that it does not fit my Kindle Paperwhite. That is not the problem with this bag. I can fit it easily in the larger compartment with plenty of room to spare.
Thanks to the amazing organization of this bag, I am able to fit a ton. The front of the bag has two mesh compartments that are similar to the belt bags, which are perfect for holding keys, lip balms, etc.
In addition to being able to fit my Kindle without any issues, this bag also perfectly fits my regular sized Baggu bag, my Lululemon True Identity Card Holder, my phone, my Summer Fridays lip balm, AirPods (for the gym, of course), and hand sanitizer. On a weekend, this is the perfect amount of items I would take.
Out of all of the bags that Lululemon has to offer and the bags that I have in my collection, this is definitely one of my new favorites that I will be using over and over again. It’s compact, but not too compact. It’s comfortable to wear, and lightweight. Further, the bag is also just useful in many different situations, making this an amazing investment for someone on the go.
thenutmegmillennial.com 