The Telfar tote bag is an affordable, yet exclusive bag that takes a side of luck in order to snag one. I recently added a small shopper tote to my collection, and I am so happy that I was able to grab one. Over this past weekend, I took the bag out for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised on how much this tiny bag will fit. Now, I’m not saying that you will be able to fit everything bit the kitchen sink, but I am saying that it will fit more than a few things.
I really like the simplicity of this bag so far, and I am sure that this will become a new daily bag. I have been lucky to get it in a few colors, and I am so happy that I did. They are so fun to add to my collection.
Five stars on Goodreads is a huge accomplishment, and means that a book is something that is mind blowing. For me, a book that gets five stars is a book that I either can’t put down, get emotionally invested in, or just get sucked in the world of the book.
Throughout my 20-odd years as a reader, I’ve encountered so many books that I loved all over the years. These are only five books that I’ve given five stars too, but they all are definitely worth the read.
1. Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan:Before I Let Go was my first and only Kennedy Ryan book that I have read as of late, and I was obsessed with this book from the moment I read the first line to the last line. After the loss of a baby, Yasmen and Josiah amicably divorce. However, the two of them still remain on good terms — to the point where sparks fly. I loved every moment of this book, and everything about it. I definitely want to read more Kennedy Ryan’s books, but need to make sure that my calendar is clear.
2. Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Out of all the books by TJR, this one is my favorite book by her. I loved the characters, the way that the story was reading, and I loved the TV show.
3. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin: Something Borrowed was one of my first “adult” books that I’ve read. I remember just being sucked into this world. This book tells the story of best friends Rachel and Darcy. Rachel has always had to step aside so that her best friend could be the star of the shoe. So, when Darcy’s fiancé kisses Rachel one night, Rachel is conflicted with the line of right and wrong.
4. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: This tells the story of sisters, Vianne and Isabel. Both live in France, and a German captain soon takes over Vianne’s home. Both sisters, whether on the front lines or home front have a crucial part in the war, and this one is definitely worth the read.
5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: This novel takes place in the 1950s, and tells the story of Ms. Elizabeth Zott, a chemist who has a TV show. This novel was both entertaining and thought-provoking, as it exposes many of the attitudes towards women in STEM in that time frame.
The Beardsley Zoo’s Glow Wild has returned to Bridgeport for its second year. From now until December 2nd, visitors can enjoy this magical experience, which includes exhibits of beautifully lit lanterns, and peaceful music playing in the background — all of which creating a peaceful ambiance.
The festival runs weekly from Thursday to Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This event is something that I truly think is worth the $22 price tag for adults. There were displays of gorgeous flowers, animals, and more, all created by the event’s sponsors. Basically, attendees are invited to walk through it, and enjoy it. Many of the exhibits had moving parts, which is something that I thought was amazing.
My husband and I visited the zoo last night for a date, and were in awe with the whole experience. It was just magical, as the zoo was lit up from the parking lot and all throughout. This is an event I know that we will be returning to for years to come. To purchase tickets, please check out their website here.
Be sure to scroll below to see my pictures from the event:
Sunday funday is here, and I am so excited to share some of the things that have inspired me over this past week. Some of these are basic stuff, but I still wanted to take the time to share them (and hopefully use them to inspire you too).
1. My Spin Instructor: For her privacy, I am going to not share her name. However, I am now taking spin classes, and I am obsessed. What I like about her classes is that they inspire me to push myself and give me some great music recommendations.
2. YouTube: As many of you now, we are venturing towards the end of Blogtober. One of the pitfalls of Blogtober is without a doubt trying to come up with some great post ideas that are actually interesting to read. Some of my favorites include Maggychu, Michele Vidal, and a lot of booktube, because your girl loves to read.
Handbags are definitely my vice. I change mine out frequently, and I really enjoy my handbag collection. I do plan to do a handbag purge on my Poshmark soon, but in the mean time, I wanted to share some of the bags that I’ve been carrying on repeat.
1. Coachtopia Ergo Large Bag In Black: I am obsessed with this bag, and this is the bag that I’ve been carrying on repeat for the last few weeks. It fits everything that I need, and it looks amazing.
2. Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag: This is one of my favorites, if not my favorite, grab and go bag. I use this all of the time when going to the gym, as it fits everything that I need and more. I also use this bag when running errands, and it’s so secure. I can not recommend this bag enough.
3. Coach Luna: I got this bag when it was on sale, and it is no longer sold on the Coach website (they replaced it when the Mira bag, which has a crossbody strap and chain). However, I really love this one. When I was on vacation last month, I used it regularly. Furthermore, I wore it when I went to a baby shower. I love this bag because it has just the right mixture of formal and casual, so you can wear it in multiple ways. Low cost per wear? Something that we love around here.
TGIF everyone! The air is just a tiny bit chillier and now the fall season is among us here in Connecticut. I am ready for the chilly weather, even though I’ve been procrastinating changing my closet over to more winter attire.
That said, I wanted to share some of my favorites this week. I can’t believe that I have ten posts left to complete Blogtober, but here we are. Somehow I’ve been able to not run out of ideas for posts, which is always a blessing if you ask me.
1. July Rose Milagro Fish Necklace: I ordered this necklace in the summer and it finally came in last week. I got the silver one, and I’m obsessed. A milagro necklace is basically like a good luck charm, which is something that I think we all need. What is so cool about July Rose pieces is that all of the pieces are made to order, which is why they take a while to get. I am so happy with this piece. It also comes in gold, but I am definitely a silver girly.
2. Kardashians: I discovered this show while I was sick, and I’ve been really enjoying this so far.
3. Honora Pearl Necklace: I ordered this off of QVC last week, and I’m really happy to have a simple and high quality pearl necklace in my collection. I can see myself using this for both casual and formal wear.
4. Old Navy Stevie Pants: There is nothing like a pair of comfy pants that you can wear to work. I got these when I got Old Navy Super Cash, which of course is a dangerous thing. These felt like wearing a pair of leggings, and they weren’t a bad price.
5. Pumpkin Spice Graham Goldfish: Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Spice mixed with Goldfish = a delicious snack that I can’t get enough of.
Thanks to Prime Day and the need for some essentials, I’ve been turning to Amazon to pick up my essentials. Some of these are basic ones, while others are just fun little purchases that have elevated my daily life.
So without further a due, here are my October Amazon Favorites:
1. Pens: I am such a stationary snob. I got these pens at work, and loved the way that they wrote so much that I decided to get them from Amazon. These write so well, and I highly recommend them.
2. Scalp Massager: I’ve been using this before washing my hair, and I really love how it feels. I also love how it will help stimulate hair growth. That said, results are still yet to be seen, as I’ve only used it twice.
3. Grogu Weighted Plush: One of the best things about Amazon is that many of the popular brands are available, including Disney. I love my Grogu weighted plush, as it helps me have a deeper sleep, and allows me to relax. As someone who deals with anxiety, this is crucial. Plus, we all know how much I love Grogu.
4. Comb: I was influenced by Alexa LeConche on Instagram to buy this, and this is the perfect comb to just stick in your purse, whether you’re going to work or the gym. I love how slim it is, and since it comes in a pack of two, it makes it easier to just leave it in my bag and not have to worry about trying to find a comb.
5. Notebook: I do a lot of journaling, and I love Moleskins. However, I do not love the price of said Moleskins. Enter this Moleskin dupes, which is a third of the price of them, but is excellent quality. I have the eggshell green one currently, but I will be purchasing more in the future.
The Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag is a staple in my wardrobe, and is easily one of the most functional items that I own. I have it in multiple colors, all three sizes, and often stalk the website for new releases when they occur. This bag is my go-to for almost anything, from when I go to the gym, when I go for a walk with my husband, and when I run various errands where I want to have my items close by.
This is not the first time I’ve mentioned the Everywhere Belt Bag on my blog. About a year ago, I wrote a review on the bag, and you can see what fits in it. That said, I wanted to share what I carry in the bag nowadays. For context, this is the Gray Sage Color, and I used this bag all throughout the weekend from errands to my spin class.
Spooky season is here, and the Downtown Milford area is in the Halloween spirit with its third annual Scarecrow Fest, an event that is hosted by the Downtown Milford Business Association. This is the third year that the festival has been held (check out these posts about 2021‘s and 2022‘s), and this year is no exception to the creativity.
According to an article on the Milford-Orange Mirror entitled DMBA to Host Scarecrow Fest, the festival allows “families, Milford-based businesses, organizations and clubs” to “build their own unique scarecrows for display.” The scarecrows are built by using kits that are available by the Downtown Milford Business Association. One of my favorite parts about writing this post each year is hearing the stories behind the scarecrows, and they truly bring a sense of community.
This year’s scarecrows were a mixture of classic spooky icons, creativity, and appearance from this year’s most popular characters, i.e. Bluey and Barbie.
The scarecrows will hanging out in the Downtown Milford area throughout the month of October, so I recommend taking a walk to check them out. However, I do invite you to check out these photos of the scarecrows in the interium:
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Imagine a place where you can get Free People and Anthropologie at H and M prices — from clothing to housewares. That place does exist, at Retail 101 in Naugatuck, CT.
TikTok really exposed this hidden gem, and I was dying to make the trip up. This past weekend, I can finally say that I can cross it off of my bucket list.
The hours and locations of the sale vary, so before you make the trip, it is highly recommended that you take a look at their website. There are many mixed reviews on Retail 101, but I will say that it is definitely worth the trip if you like to hunt for a bargain. Inventory changes weekly; so, like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, you really need to commit to checking it regularly and to spending some time looking through everything.
I did not take any photos of or in Retail 101 during my visit, because it was just so overwhelming. However, I did pick up a few Free People clothing items. I got 6 pieces of clothing for $70. The most I paid for a single piece of clothing was $11.99. Yes. $11.99 for Free People jeans.
That said, they had everything including Anthropologie mugs to Free People Movement active wear to trendy pieces of Urban Outfitters clothing. There was aisles and aisles of coaches, mirrors, dressers, and more.
The deal of Retail 101 is this: many of the items are slightly flawed, or overstock of items from previous seasons. Many of the items were damaged, or had something missing from them. That is why the items are the price that they are. That being said, if you’re good with sewing, or just creative, then you can score major deals.
If you are planning to go to Retail 101, here are a few tips that I have of things I wish I knew before making a visit:
1. Wear layers: There are fitting rooms available for you to try things on. However, they are not the most private or fanciest dressing rooms. So, to make things easier on yourself, wear layers and even things that you can get in and out of easily.
2. Don’t look for anything specific: Retail 101 is a hit and miss kind of place; therefore you can’t look for anything specific. However, if you’re looking for clothes for a specific purpose, i.e. workout or work, then I think that it will be okay.
3. Go back the first day in the morning: Yes, it’s hard to make it there during the week. However, the rumor mill is that the best time to go to Retail 101 is in the morning on the first day (Thursday). That way, you can get the best to choose from.
4. Block off time: Last but certainly not least, block off time to thoroughly go through everything that Retail 101 offers. There is a lot to shift through, so it’s important to make sure that you’re not rushed in anyway, shape, or form.
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