Friday Faves: July 26, 2024

TGIF! I am just realizing that this is the first Friday Faves that I’ve done this month, thanks to the 4th of July holiday and traveling. I am so happy to share some of my favorites, as I feel like the list is growing daily.

So, without further adue, here are my favorites for this week:

1. Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan: I have fallen down a rabbit hole where I am absolutely obsessed with Annabel Monaghan. I read her latest book, Summer Romance, when I was on a weekend getaway with my husband. I devoured it in the span of 24 hours, which is good when your girl is behind on her reading goal.

2. Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane: Another book that I’ve been really enjoying this week is Just Last Night. This is my audiobook that I am currently reading, and so far, I am really enjoying it. A few other books by the author are currently on my TBR, and I have yet to actually get to them. However, I am obsessed with this one. This is not just a romance, this is more on the line of women’s fiction. That said, I really have enjoyed listening to this one, and now have the desire to get to some of the author’s other books.

3. Air and Anchor Necklaces: I got this necklace also while I was on vacation, and I have been obsessed with it. I love the concept, the durability, and the fact that each one is completely customizable. I currently have two that I have been wearing layered, and I absolutely love them both.

4.Jellycat Coffee Charm: I found this while I was on vacation, and I snatched it up so quickly. He currently lives on my handbag, and he brings me so much joy when I look at him.

5. Amazon Makeup bag: This is just a gamechanger, guys. It’s super compact, but when it folds out, it expands a ton. What I love about this is that it helps you stay super organized, so that you can find whatever it is you’re looking for quickly. This has saved me so much time in the morning.

How to Have a Mystical Bachelorette Party In Mystic, Connecticut

When it comes to a Connecticut bride, it can be tricky to have a bachelorette party in state. However, depending on what the bride may envision, the beautiful and historic Mystic is always a great option with several activities, delicious food, and of course, a wide assortment of bars.

I celebrated my friend’s bachelorette party this weekend in Mystic, and it was such a fun experience, so I wanted to pop on here to share some ideas on how to create your own mystical bachelorette party without having to leave the state of Connecticut — whether you’re the nutmeg bride or you’re trying to come up with ideas for one.

Brunch:

Activities:

  • Watchill Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island: (Note if you end up going here, make sure to bring cash. Many of the lots often end up being cash only).
  • Ghost Tour
  • Mystic Boat Adventures
  • Museums
  • Mystic Aquarium

Places to Visit:

Restaurants:

Bars:

Ms. Dallas Shop in Milford Is the Perfect Spot for Treasures Past and Present

Milford’s Ms. Dallas Shop can be compared to a box of chocolates simply because you truly never know what you’re going to find. However, I can pin point it to three different categories — vintage/consignment, local artisans, and home/garden. There are treasures everywhere you look, which is something that I truly appreciated of it.

This little shop is located in the industrial section in Milford, however, when walking through the store it feels like walking into your grandmother’s home — warm and comforting. The owner, Linda, was incredibly welcoming and informative. She even polished the bracelet I had purchased for me, and provided some tips on how to clean up vintage pieces as well as the history of the piece. Furthermore, she had some coffee and candy to offer to her customers as well. I absolutely loved my experience at the store simply for our conversation alone. This is a store that truly you can spent hours exploring, so don’t let the size fool you.

As I mentioned earlier, Ms. Dallas Shop has a combination of items that are available. When I was walking through the shop, I found gorgeous china pieces, beautiful jewelry, accessories, and so much more.

I loved the consignment pieces that this store has. There was so much vintage jewelry — sterling silver and costume. As I mentioned earlier, there is a ton of vintage pieces. In addition, they had a huge selection of my kryptonite — vintage purses. And their prices are very fair. Thrifting can be tricky, and sometimes pricey, but pieces started as low as $5 a bracelet. Their sterling silver pieces were on the pricey side, but not out of the range of affordable. What I liked about these pieces is how unique they were, and it was something that I enjoyed just looking at.

However, it is their latest promotion that has had me curious about the store — the dumpster diving. I sadly did not participate in it, however, I am itching to make a trip this week. Basically, you can purchase an empty shopping bag for $20, $30, and $40, and then you’re taking to three large containers to fill it to the brim. Needless to say, you can get much more than whatever you paid for it, and it honestly looks so much fun. I definitely will be doing a trip just for the dumpster diving alone.

Overall, if you’re looking for a gift, something vintage, or just want to spend some time browsing, Ms. Dallas Shop is definitely the place to check out. Honestly, the dumpster diving promotion alone is reason enough to make the trip, and I definitely will be back.

A Tale of Three Kindles: An Honest Comparison of the Three

Prime Day is tomorrow, and one of the devices that will be seeing a reduction in price is of course the Kindle. Currently, Amazon has three Kindles available — the basic, the Paperwhite/Paperwhite Signature Edition, and the Scribe. There is also the Oasis, but at this time, I am unsure if it is being discontinued or not.

I currently have all three. One of them, the Kindle Basic, was actually my husband’s that has been sitting for about three years in the box before I decided to use it for beach days, and days when I don’t want to take my Paperwhite. I often rotate between the Scribe and the Paperwhite if I am being honest. I used to have the Oasis, which I loved, but after three and a half years of heavy use, I managed to drain the battery to the point where it no longer holds a charge for more than a day.

I’m going to do a brief rundown of the three from the perspective of a reader, not someone who is technically inclined.

The Basic, which is the 2019 model and not the latest one, is just an ereader with a backlight. I like it simply because of its size; however, you don’t get much with this one. It’s not waterproof. There is no adjustment to warm light at night, which is something that I utilize on the daily. I am not sure about the newer 2022 model, but the battery on the 2019 one that I have does seem to drain a little quicker compared to the other two I have.

The Paperwhite, which can come in the signature or the regular is by far my ride or die. It’s waterproof. It’s a little bigger than the Basic but not so much bigger that I have trouble putting it in my purse. It has different settings for the Glowlight. I have the signature, and one of the things that I love about it is the wireless charging. It makes it easier than ever to squeeze in a quick charge whenever. But, I rarely need to charge it — even with the Wi-Fi on. Further, it is so nice to read on.

Finally, let’s talk about the Scribe. I got this mainly for the fact that you can use it for journaling, but then I fell in love with reading on the bigger screen so it became my reader that I use at home. The screen is larger than the others, but not to the point where it’s awful to carry around. Further, it is so nice because you can make notes in books, which is so nice for book clubs. Of course, it has the same backlight features as the Paperwhite, but it’s honestly such a fun device. Like the Paperwhite, the battery for this one lasts for at least for a few weeks at a time, if not more. Unfortunately, this one is not waterproof, so that’s the drawback for me. This one, however, is extremely pricey, and for that reason alone, I’d proceed with caution if this is your first Kindle.

If I had to pick one of these devices, it would honestly be the Paperwhite. It’s portable, waterproof, the battery lasts for days, and has all of the features a heavy reader would need to get through their day. It’s a splurge, but not so much that you’re breaking the bank.

If you do pick one up during Prime Day, be sure to add a case and Popsocket to your cart as well — those two honestly changed the game for me to the point where my reading experience is elevated.

2024 Midyear Book Freakout: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of My Reading Year

Reading is one of my favorite hobbies, and 2024 has been no different. To date, I’ve read 71 books. Some of them are audiobooks, and I was able to cross quite a few books off of my TBR that have remained there for years. I am behind on my reading goal of 150 books, but I am still proud of the amount of reading I have done thus far.

1. Best Book You’ve Read So Far In 2024?

This is a tie between Funny Story by Emily Henry and Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. Both of these books were absolutely amazing, and I cannot pick between the two.

2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2024?

Without a doubt, The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine. This one definitely left my jaw on the floor, and I asked myself, did I really just read that?

3. New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To?

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin, simply because it hasn’t come out yet, and Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors.

4. Most Anticipated Release of the Second Half of 2024?

See above.

5. Biggest Disappointment of 2024?

I’d definitely say the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. I was so so excited about getting to this one. However, I just couldn’t get into it no matter how hard I tried. I did not DNF this, because I have heard so many great things about it, and I thought it would get better for me.

6. Biggest Surprise of 2024?

I’d say the Throne of Glass books. I started them back in the day when they had first come out, and could not get into them. I decided to give them another try back in December, and finished the series in March. I was amazed with how engaged I got with the story, as well as how much depth the series had as it went on. And yes, I did the TANDEM read.

7. Favorite New (to you) Author of 2024?

I guess Lauren Layne or Jennifer Weiner, since I binged a ton of their books for the first half of the year.

8. Newest Fictional Crush of 2024?

Definitely Miles from Funny Story or Anders from Novel Love Story. Both of these were the most amazing book boyfriends.

9. Newest Favorite Fictional Character of 2024?

I would definitely have to say Celeana/Aelin from the Throne of Glass series, because she is such a badass. Yeah, she is a smart ass, but I love her sassiness, and how mature she gets over the course of the series. I also loved reading about her journey.

10. Book That Made You Cry in 2024?

The book that made me shed the most tears this year was definitely the Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken. The book was an amazing read, but it was so sad and full of trauma. It tugged at my heart strings. For once, there are actually a few runners up. The first is the last book of the Throne of Glass series, because I was sad that it was over and happy for the characters. The second is anything Ashley Poston writes — I read a Novel Love Story and Dead Romantics and was on the verge of tears.

11. Books That Made You Happy in 2024?

Quite a few books made me happy this year, but the ones that stood out is Abby Jiminez’s Yours Truly and Just for the Summer. I love her writing and how the characters from different books interact with each other.

12. What is the most beautiful book that you bought this year?

I honestly don’t have an answer for this one, as many of the books I buy are either ebooks or Book of the Month.

13. What Books You Really Need to Read by the End of the Year?

Where to begin? I’ve been actually trying to get to the books that have been on my Goodreads TBR for over 10 years to try to clear that up. I also want to finish the Brutal Birthright series as well as the Bridgerton series. Furthermore, I also want to get to a few more of the Outlander books as well.

My Bedside Crystals

Crystals have been something that has been a huge part of my life for the last few years. One of the places I feel like I need the most healing is the bedroom to assist with anxiety, and insomnia. Needless to say, I’ve started to collect crystals that have resided by my bedside.

I wanted to take the time to share those crystals with you. Again, I am not an expert in any way, shape, or form. These are crystals that work for me personally for what I need them to do.

That said, here are the crystals by my bedside:

1. Unakite Tower: This was the first crystal that I added to my collection. Unakite is used for healing pain and for hormone balance. I have had my ups and downs with my hormones and cycles over the last year, so this has been an essential for me.

2. Amethyst Heart: I deal with anxiety — a lot (ever have those nights where you just lay there and think about all you did wrong in life?) Since amethyst is a calming stone, it is definitely needed at my bedside.

3. Black Obsidian Point: Since Black Obsidian helps bring negative energy to the surface, this has been helpful when dealing with some of the nightmares that I’ve been having lately, and bring positive energy into my space.

4. Selenite Heart: Selenite is a great stone for bringing purification and positive energy. That is why many people use it to help cleanse their crystals. I personally think it’s a great stone to have in your bedroom to bring peace into your life.

5. Dalmatian Jasper Elephant: This is a new addition to my collection. Dalmatian Jasper is helpful when it comes to dealing with nightmares, which is something that I deal with on a daily basis thanks to my medication. I love elephants, so this is something that brings me so much joy whenever I look at it.

June Empties

There is nothing more satisfying than finishing a product. I loved sharing my May empties last month, so I’m coming back to share my June ones as well.

That being said, before we get into the empties, I want to share how I recycled my empty containers. While at Sephora last week, I noticed that there was a little box for recycling. I ended up bring them to my local Sephora, where I was able to recycle them with perfect ease. Turns out, they have a program where you can recycle empty containers. You can learn more about it here.

1. Summer Fridays Lip Balm in Pink Sugar: I absolutely loved this one. I am a huge fan of Summer Fridays, and their lip formulas. I never finish lip balms, so for this to be even on this list is a feat in of itself. Further, I love everything about this — the flavor and the way it applies. It gives you a slight tint, but still is pretty sheer. I already replaced this, and I definitely believe this is worth the hype.

2. Bath and Body Works Snowflakes and Cashmere Body Mist: This is one of my favorite scents from Bath and Body Works. It’s a mix of comforting and clean, which are my favorite two elements when it comes to a scent. The fact that I finished a body spray this month is something that I am so incredibly proud of myself for. I would definitely repurchase it, but I think I have a larger version of this laying around that I want to use up first.

3. Benefit Brow Gel: Okay, this is the travel sized one, but this is something that is a game changer. I use this any day that I am putting makeup, and it makes my eyebrows feel instantly more elevated and polished, even if it’s been a while since I’ve tweezed. I highly recommend this and I think it’s 100 percent worth the investment.

June 2024 Favorites

June has come and gone, and now, the first half of the year is over. It’s hard to believe that we’re finally entering summer. July is a special month for me for a number of reasons, and this upcoming month is no different.

But, before we get to the month of July, let’s take a moment to reflect on my favorites from the month of June.

1. Free People Quilted Carryall: This bag has been my go-to for work. It fits everything that I need for the workday, and is really comfortable to wear. I also like that I can stuff it with everything, and it will never be full or heavy.

2. Baggu Fanny Pack: I have been reaching for this bag during weekends when I have errand trips and just need something that is hands free. This is something that is much roomier than the Lululemon one, and it holds my Kindle with perfect ease.

3. The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine: This was a book that I could not put down. I love Liv Constantine, and her books are unputdownable for me.

4. Anthropologie Rainbow Stone Necklace: I purchased a few different versions of this piece, and it’s been perfect for layering. I love this necklace because it adds a pop color to an outfit, and it just reminds me of summer.

Red Lotus’ Lunchbox Special Offers A Lot of Bang For Your Buck

Getting takeout versus bringing your own lunch is often the first thing that is slashed when creating a budget. As costs rise thanks to inflation, takeout has slowly become a luxury.

However, Shelton’s Red Lotus has the best lunch special that I have seen in a while. Their lunch box and lunch special is $15, and has so many options to choose from, including: pad Thai with either shrimp or chicken; Thai basil chicken/beef; hibachi steak and chicken; and General Tso’s Chicken, just to name a few of the many options. My personal go-to is their pad Thai, and it is absolutely delicious.

The entree, however, is only the first part of the meal. Their lunch special also includes a soup or salad, California rolls, wasabi, Shumai, and fried rice. This special is delicious, and leaves you full enough without the added worry of leftovers. If you’re doing takeout, then it comes in a Bento-style box where everything has its own section. Nonetheless, this is a great option not only for takeout, but for meeting a friend or your significant other for a lunch date on a budget.

Their lunch special for sushi is incredible as well. You can get 2 or 3 rolls along with salad or soup, or 7 rolls (chef’s choice) for $16. Not a bad value.

In addition to their delicious special, Red Lotus has an extensive menu of Asian cuisine that includes sushi. Their menu consists of rolls, noodles, and sushi — just to name a few different options. This variety is perfect, because there are options for nearly everyone, whether they like Thai, a California roll, or Korean Beef.

While the menu is extensive, Red Lotus’ decor is simplistic and minimal but beautiful. When walking through their doors, I am always greeted by a wave of peace and tranquility. That is the perfect escape, especially during crazy days.

Whether it’s for lunch or dinner, I know for sure that I will be a regular at Red Lotus for a long time.

My Favorite Crystals To Use When I’m Feeling Stressed or Anxious

My crystal and gemstone jewelry collection has grown over the last few years. I am a jewelry lover through and through, but there is something that is so powerful about having crystal gemstones in my arsenal to aid me in a specific type of situation.

That said, I have found that crystals have helped me deal with anxiety and stress for the last few years. The crystals that I am about to share with you are ones that have honestly helped calm me, whether it may be from a panic attack or just an overall stressful day at work.

Before I begin, I just want to say that these are the crystals that work well for myself. I am in no ways an expert on crystals, but I have found that these are the ones that have worked well for me and my experiences.

So, here are the crystals that I use that help me with anxiety:

Amethyst: Amethyst has been my go to since I’ve begun my journey. I have so many different types of amethyst pieces that I have accumulated over the years. Amethyst has many different healing properties, but in this instance, amethyst relieves stress, and helps with mediation and balance.

Sodalite: Sodalite is another great gemstone as well for those who are stressed and those with anxiety. Of its many healing properties, sodalite helps with emotional well-being and enhances self-esteem. This is crucial for those who suffer with anxiety if you ask me.

Howlite: Howlite is loving known as calm the f**k down stone. I deal with a lot of anxiety when it comes to driving, so I keep one clipped to the air vent of my car. The Howlite is a great calming stone for stress relief, eliminating pain and stress, and of course, just creating balance.

Rose Quartz: Last but certainly not least, rose quartz is my go-to in times of anxiety and stress. Rose quartz is such a powerful gemstone, but during times of anxiety, I find it hard to show myself some love. Therefore, rose quartz — the gemstone of love — helps increase the elements of love within for myself.