My Top Reads of 2025

2025 was definitely a slower reading year for me. I’m not sure what happened, but this was the first year since probably 2020 where I had read less than 100 books. However, instead of being down on myself about not reading enough books this year to be on par for years past, I want to take a moment to share my thoughts on some of my favorite books from this year of reading.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo: I read this book back in January, and even then I knew that this was going to be a book that I was going to talk about in this post. It was one of those books that had left me in pieces as I was reading it. This book is about figure skaters Katerina and Heath who gain fame as ice skaters with every odd against them. The two were bound together and have forces that tear them apart at every turn. This book was told in a style of Daisy Jones and the Six, and I was obsessed. If you haven’t read this one, I believe that this is the perfect time of year to do so. I couldn’t put it down and it had led me to an emotional ride.

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone: This book was a great read, and one of my favorites this year. Well, obviously, since it was on this list. This book made me swoon, smile, and cry all at the same time. This is the store of Eve, who is dealing with the effects of an unexpected pregnancy. I love the friends to lovers, the characters, and so much about this book that you should just read it.

Song of Archilles by Madeline Miller: I want to add this book to one of the books that made me cry in 2025. This book was devoured on a train ride to the city, and was the retelling of the myth of Achilles. It was absolutely amazing.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone: This book gutted me in the best way possible. This one tells the story of Lenny, who is grieving the loss of her best friend. She lands a babysitting job, where she meets Miles who is the uncle of the little girl that she’s babysitting. He teaches her how to live, which was so amazing to read. I loved this book, and I highly recommend that you read it with a box of tissues near by.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: Emily Henry’s one of my go-to authors and whenever she comes out with a new book, it’s an auto buy and instant read for me. I loved that this book was different than all of the other books Henry wrote. It’s told in dual timelines, and POVs. In one, it’s about Alice competing for the ultimate biography project — a biography of Margaret Ives with Pulitzer Prize winner Hayden Anderson. In another, it’s Margaret’s story. Now, if you liked The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you would absolutely love this one.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This book is another one that made me cry in the end, and one that had a twist that I did not see coming. This book tells the story of Joan Goodwin, who is obsessed with the stars and science for as long as she can remember. She goes to NASA, where she is infatuated with Vanessa. This book completely paints the portrait of NASA in the 1980s, and has all of the things that I expected in a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel. It tugs on your heartstrings. It makes you feel all of the emotions. You don’t want to put it down.

Therefore, it’s on this list for me.

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Susman: Lauren is a widow in a small town, and the sister of superstar, Gabe Parker. Lauren is tasked with raising her daughter on her own when actor Ben Walsh comes in the mix. With small town rumors flying, Ben’s fame, and her daughter’s moodiness against them, Lauren decides to take their sexy encounters into something more and move forward with her life. I loved this book. Told in a then and now way, the book is more than just a spicy read. It tells the story of a second chance, and two people who are looking to just move forward from trauma in their lives. Plot twist, I loved this one.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison: I giggled and enjoyed this book all the way through. This tells the story of Aiden Valentine, who needs his ratings on his show to go up. When a young girl calls into the station in regards to her mother, he knows he’s found his chance. Lucie thinks that she’s living a perfect life. She just works and takes care of her child. However, she jumps on the chance to start her love life. This book was super entertaining, and I really loved it, especially working in radio.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston: When a talented songwriter has a major case of writer’s block, she goes back to her hometown to help out her family. While she’s there, she hears someone in her head. At first, she thinks that it is a figment of her imagination, or that she’s gone crazy, but it brings her to a handsome and infuriating man that she bickered with. There’s so much that I loved about this book — the family aspects, the fantasy element, and the journey the character goes on. I highly recommend this book.

The Wild Series by K.A. Tucker: This was a series that I read at the absolutely right time. This tells the story of Calla, who gets fired from her city job, and decides to visit her estranged father after years of no contact. She is in for complete culture shock when first glancing at Alaska and their way of life, and is bickering with Jonah, her dad’s right hand man. This series was amazing to read, and I am pretty sure that I will read this one again.

*Note: This post does contain affiliate links from Amazon. By using them and making a purchase using them gives me a small commission through the Amazon Affiliate program at no cost to you.

Thank You Coach for Finally Listening To Me With the Brooklyn 34

One of my biggest issues with the Coach Brooklyn bag back when I first got it was that although I absolutely loved the 28, I wished there was a size in between the 28 and 39. Don’t get me wrong, I love my 28 one and it fits a ton. However, I yearned for a bag that was larger, but not so large that it overpowered me like I felt the 39 did.

Enter the 34. The size 34 was released a few months ago, and knowing that I wanted this size, I knew it was a must have for me. It was like Coach had read my mind and desire for a larger Brooklyn.

What fits featuring Lucy.

She’s now here in my collection and she is staying.

This bag was everything in my wildest dreams and then some. Like my 28, it is simple and quiet luxury. The only notation of a brand is the small gold Coach print on the front. The leather, like her baby sister, feels so supple and amazing, a bag that will be a part of a collection for years to come.

At least I know it will be part of my collection for years to come. It is like a cozy sweater — you can just throw it on and it will go with everything. This leather, with age, will only get better and better.

The only difference between this size and her little sister is size. What I really love about this is the fact that since the strap is larger, this just glides over coats and thick sweaters— a must for the colder days in Connecticut.

And the capacity is perfect. I was able to fit my Coach Wristlet, Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette, Kindle Colorsoft, Work ID badge, key holder, and so many other little things — many of which the Brooklyn 28 could never hold.

Compared to my smaller one, I would have to switch to the smaller pouch and wallet, and sometimes, it would be pushing it. This one has more room and snaps with ease.

Needless to say, I’m a huge fan of this one. I believe this is the perfect everyday bag — at least for someone who has been entering her big bag era. She’s perfect and is my new favorite bag from Coach.

What a perfect addition to the Brooklyn family, Coach.

Friday Faves: December 19, 2025

It is less than one week until Christmas. There’s panic. There’s excitement. There’s the feeling of worry of how much one has left to do and not enough time to do it.

Ah, the feeling of procrastination.

But before we start wrapping up 2025, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my favorites for this past week:

  1. Bare Minerals Tinted Moisturizer: I have been obsessed with this tinted moisturizer. I love it because it’s lightweight, and has helped my dry skin so much. It also is advertised as a sunscreen, which due to the winter season, I haven’t exactly used it as, but the SPF is actually really good as well.
  2. R and Co Badlands Dry Shampoo: I just started to use this product, and let me tell you, it’s one that I will repurchase again. It has given my hair so much volume, and has managed to soak up a lot of the oils left in my hair. As a thin hair girly, this is something that has been so helpful.
  3. Sophie Scarf/Hood: The Sophie collection by PetiteKnit is by far my favorite knit patterns to use. I am a novice knitter, and these patterns are so easier for building my confidence. This has been addictive to make. Just be sure to use a stitch counter/marker.
  4. Coach Plaza 22 Bag: My latest Coach purchase has been one of my favorites. I love the Coach Nolita, but she’s a little small. This bag is so perfect. It’s a little bigger, but not so much that it’s a huge bag. You fit the essentials, and just sling it over your shoulder. Boom. I am even considering wearing this bag with my larger ones so I can really get that cost per wear down.
  5. Improved Health Chair Workouts: These workouts have been my saving grace since I sprained and fractured my ankle. No weight bearing BUT I get to still get a good workout in. Win.

Let me know. Are you ready for the holiday season? Let me know in the comments below!

Please note that there are some affiliate links used in this blog post. Using them is at no cost to you, but if you use them, I get a small commission.

Do I Think the Sophie Scarf Is Worth Making?

If you knit and you’re on the internet, I am more than sure that you’ve heard of Petite Knit. Petite Knit by Mette Wendelboe Okkels has been on the Internet since 2016 and giving the world her elegant patterns from scarves to sweaters. However, she has come to fame over the last few years thanks to the viral Sophie pattern collections.

The Sophie collection, which include the scarf, shawl, and hood, are pretty straightforward. They increase after x amount of rows (the amount depends on which you’re making), and then they decrease after you reach the max increase. To date, I have made three scarves, a shawl, and I currently have the hood cast on. And I’m not alone. There are so many content creators that have created multiples of this for both themselves or as gifts.

Now, I am not an expert knitter by any means. I’ve done scarves by using garter stitch, but that’s about it. These patterns were pretty easy to make, at least for me with the expertise that I had when I started the first one. I did have to Google the I-Cord edging, and to make sure you get the correct amount of stitches, you do have to make sure that you count your rows.

However, I did get the hype of this pattern. The scarf goes by so quick, especially when you are in the first few rows since you only cast on six stitches. Seeing that workup so incredibly quickly is something that is really motivating, at least for me. As someone who wants that instant gratification, it helps seeing that progress, especially when it comes to fiber arts where things take months to create. In my graveyard of WIPs, you can tell that there are some projects that have moved slowly due to my lack of motivation due to slow progress.

This pattern is not it. Even the hood and the shawl, while they were a little longer to make, they definitely have gone by on the quicker side.

I also have found this pattern to be really soothing. Since this pattern is so repetitive, I can just go, and turn my brain off while making it. I have found it super relaxing when I knit, and it helps me unwind after a long day instead of doom scrolling.

Now, do I recommend this pattern?

The answer is yes.

It is both fun and mindless, and really easy for someone with little to no knitting experience. It is great for someone like me who has a bunch of single skeins of yarn, but no idea what to make with them. It also is good for that person who needs to level up after making nothing but garter stitch scarves, but isn’t ready to cast on their very first sweater. Sophie is your girl for all of that.

Needless to say, I’ll be casting on the Sophie scarf, shawl, and hood for a little while, because I’m obsessed. So yes, if you’re looking to make something this holiday season, or just need a cozy craft to keep you off of your phone, definitely check out the Sophie collection by Petite Knit.

Materials Used to Make the Sophie Scarf (affilate):

Circular Knitting Needles

Lion Brand Mandala Ombre Yarn

Amazon Favorite Finds

Check out this post on my Amazon Storefront!

Hello everyone! As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season has gone underway, I wanted to take a moment to share some of my favorite finds that I’ve been loving these days. All of these links are commissionable links, so if you use them, I would make a small profit from them.

Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick: It’s been cold lately, and I’ve been using this stuff everywhere. On my chapped lips. On my dry skin. It lives no greasy residue. It also fits in my bag, and does the job on the go. This is going to be a winter essential for me, and I highly recommend it.

Madewell Essential Shopper Tote: This bag has been slung on the shoulder of every influencer, and I finally broke down and bought it. I love this bag. It’s lightweight, fits a ton, and is so well made. I love it also because it also has a magnetic clasp, which makes it perfect for security.

Sunflower T Shirt: I have four colors of this long sleeve tee. It’s so comfy, well made, and a good price for a basic. This looks good in jeans. This looks good with leggings. I love this long sleeve shirt, and I highly recommend getting it for anyone on your list.

Bum Bag: Another bag that is perfect for Christmas gift giving. I love this bum bag. It is so easy to sling over a thick coat, and lays securely on your side without even thinking about it. I love that it comes with two straps, so you can change it according to your mood. It also fits everything you may need for a day out — including my Kindle. And for less than $30, you truly can’t go wrong.

Hamsa Ring: I just got this Hamsa ring in, and I am obsessed with it. It’s such a statement piece, but is still dainty enough for everyday wear. The quality of this ring is absolutely amazing, and already goes with so many of my other rings in my collection. I am excited to continue integrating it with my other rings.

November 2025 Favorites

I can’t believe that 2025 is almost over. Is it me, or time as an adult seems to go by so much faster than when I was a kid? I think so anyways.

That being said, I’m excited to be sharing some of my favorites of the month that I have been loving. Please note that there will be some affiliate links on this post. By clicking them, they come as no cost to you, but I do earn a small commission from you purchasing through those links.

Wild Series by K.A. Tucker: It has been a while since I have found a series that I have fallen in love with the way that I did with this one. This series tells the story of city girl Calla, who finds herself lost without the prospect of a job and a relationship. She then makes the trek out to Alaska to visit her dying father. This turns into a series that is both beautiful, spicy, and entertaining all in one. I was obsessed, and I think this is the perfect time of year to obsess over it.

eNewton Bracelets: I was just as obsessed withw eNewton in November as I was in October. I love these bracelets. I love that they are the type of piece that I can wear almost every day from sparkle to sweatpants. My collection has definitely grown a lot, but I can honestly say that they have become a huge part of my jewelry collection. If you’re considering getting these as a gift, please let this be your sign to do so. I wear them pretty much everyday.

Made By Mary Jude Charm Link Necklace: I love this necklace. It finally arrived at the end of last month, and it has been on repeat ever since. I currently have four charms on it — the number 7, the evil eye, the horseshoe, and the fortune cookie. I love the good vibes that this necklace brings me, and it looks good with other pieces or on it’s own.

Made by Mary Poppy Necklace: I’ve been wearing this necklace for all month as well. It pairs perfectly with the necklace that I have just shared, as well as other necklaces that I have in my collection. This would be such a great gift for Christmas, and I am pretty sure that anyone on your list will love to receive it, as it’s like a white T-Shirt in your jewelry box. It will go with anything.

Ring: I have been wanting a Tungsten ring, and I found the perfect one on Amazon for less than $20. I have both the larger size and a smaller one and I wear one of them pretty much every day. This is a perfect travel ring, as it was not so expensive, but it’s also a good everyday piece as well.

Long Sleeve T-Shirt: I have this shirt in three different colors (khaki, black, and gray), and I want more. It is such a great price (less than $20), and the quality is amazing. I have worn this with leggings and jeans and was comfortable the entire time. I am already thinking about who else to get this shirt for, because it is just that good.

Aurate Tennis Bracelet: This is one of my favorite second hand finds this year and this is something that I’ve worn maybe everyday this month. It goes with every kind of stack and still manages to look effortless.

Dooney Florentine Satchel Is On Your For You Page but Is A Classic

The Florentine Satchel has been all over my TikTok for you page this fall. This makes sense, as the bag fits the bill for bags that are trending — bags that are oversized, slouchy, and age amazing. This bag checks all of those boxes.

I am way ahead of this trend, as I’ve had mine for over four years. I got mine on a whim. They were on sale at the Dooney Outlet in Clinton, Conn., and I grabbed three for less than the price of one. I currently have chestnut, natural, and black in my collection. I currently have the second smallest size, and it fits everything that I need.

This bag has been my go-to for the fall season, especially the chestnut. That is the bag that I’m currently carrying. The bag fits a Snoopy wristlet from Coach, a Marc Jacobs Beauty Bag, my Kindle, and so much more of my little bits and bobs. You can fit a lot in this bag, folks. I can fit an iPad pro and mini if I need to.

The one thing that I truly love about this bag is the overwhelming and intoxicating scent of that leather. Dooney and Bourke is one of those brands that are just amazing quality and this material stands by that promise of quality. However, the one thing that I do not like about the leather, is the fact that it’s a heavy bag. Without anything in it, this bag weighs over a pound. That weight only increases when adding essentials in.

While many bags on TikTok are trendy, for me that one is not the case. Judging from the fact that I’ve had it over a long period of time, I can tell you that it’s something that I reach for a lot. It’s aged well so far, and it’s something that I’ve received a lot of compliments on whenever I wear the bag. I also would just like to add that this a classic, beautiful bag. There are no logos, it gets the job done, and is something that is considered, at least to me, an investment piece. To me, this bag is a slouchier all leather version of a Speedy..

It can be worn either top handle or crossbody. Sometimes, it is just easy to grab it by the top handles and just go especially if it’s your front seat companion. This is truly one of my favorite bags that I own in my collection for that reason alone.

Dooney and Bourke truly knocked it out of the park with this bag, and their quality on their pieces — not just this bag — keeps me returning to their brand over and over again whether it may be new or thrifted.

This brand holds a special place in my heart not only because of that quality behind their pieces, but also because Dooney and Bourke was my mother’s favorite brand of purses. I’m pretty sure that I got my love for handbags from my mother, and her go-to brand for years was Dooney. She scouted for her latest finds on QVC, from monogram to the All Weather Leather bags in various colors.

What can I say? Mother knows best.

And while my mother did not have this bag in particular, I’m pretty sure that she would love this bag as well.

I cannot stop singing the praises of this bag, and therefore, I am so happy that more and more people are enjoying it.

If you’re looking to add this bag to your collection, there are so many ways to do it that paying full price is insane. In addition to second hand sites like Poshmark, I love Dooney had this bag for a major discount, and the bag is brand new!

*Note. This post contains affiliate links, where I may earn a small commission should you use it to purchase items with them. They are at no extra cost to you.

I’m Trying 75 Booked: Here Are My Initial Thoughts

Reading has been one of my first loves; however, lately it’s been falling behind to my other hobbies. However, the 75 Booked challenge from Emily Paige has been all over my for you page, and of course, influenced me to give it a try myself.

I wanted to try this challenge for a couple of reasons. 1. I wanted to reach my Goodreads goal. 2. I have so many physical and digital books that I wanted to get to, but haven’t yet. 3. I feel like I haven’t had made enough time for reading, so I think this would be the perfect challenge to do.

Gentle reader, you may be asking. What is 75 Booked?

Well, it’s basically a bookish version of 75 hard. The challenge is simple. Emily’s is as follows. Have two 45-minute reading sessions a day for 75 days. One of those sessions must not be in bed and can incorporate audio books for walks and cozy hobbies. Furthermore, you must finish a full water bottle of water during your reading session and commit to not buying books for 75 days.

My version is to do the 45-minute reading sessions a day with one of them not being reading in bed. I will do my best to drink water and not buy books with the exception of using my Book of the Month and Kindle Unlimited subscription, and gift cards.

The challenge has been going on for me for about five days, and I’ve been really enjoying it so far. I’ve been reading on the walking pad, the couch, and at work while waiting for Court to start. I’ve been using my Kindle, so it’s been great to swap out my Kindle for my phone. My screen time has decreased dramatically.

Furthermore, the biggest change that I have is not being on my phone at night and instead reading on the Kindle. This helps me not only cut down on the screen time before bed, but also limits the blue light — something that we all know will help me get better quality sleep which is something that has been a struggle for me these days.

Since starting the challenge, I have managed to read two books. This is a huge success, as I would probably normally read a book a week these days. I’m now one book behind where I need to be to reach my goal, versus two or three that I have been for the last month or so.

Numbers aside, I want to bring up this point. This was supposed to be a challenge, and yet, I’ve been finding it really easy to do. I don’t know if it’s just my swapping my scroll time for book time, but as of right now, it’s been something that hasn’t been challenging. Over the course of the challenge, I am sure that will change with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, as well as being an adult that works full time.

That being said, I’m looking forward to getting to quite a few books on my TBR that have just lingered.

Would you try the 75 Booked Challenge? Let me know in the comments below.

Sundays are Now for Bell Bakeshop

Sundays are for brunch and they are when the Sunday scaries for the upcoming week emerge. However, Sundays are now suddenly less scary when Bell Bakeshop in Milford opens their doors with breads and treats ready to purchase from 9 to 1 every Sunday morning.

Sage, the owner of Bell Bakeshop, advertises Sunday’s menu on Saturday night on the Bell Bakeshop Instagram. Offerings include: cookies, breads, bars, donuts, and cinnamon rolls — just to name a few. I’ve had a few of the treats over the last few weeks, and I will say each and every one of them is amazing. Some of my favorites that I’ve tried are the brownies, which were a fudgy and mouthwatering blissful treat, the biscoff, which reminded me so much of Trader Joe’s cookie butter combined with a gooey cookie, and their chewy chocolate chip cookie, which was one of the best ones that I have had to date. Each and every treat that I’ve had tasted like there was ingredients that were so fresh and just tasted like there was a lot of thought that went into how they were put together.

And in addition to regular options, Bell Bakeshop has gluten free options to try as well. We love an inclusive menu for everyone out there as someone who has an allergy to dairy. I’ve had their pumpkin bread last week, and to be honest, it was one of the best ones that I have ever had.

Bell Bakeshop has had its Sunday hours since August, but this little bakeshop offers so much more than just that. In addition to their Sunday personal options, the bakery offers wholesale, custom, and holiday offerings. Furthermore, there is a food truck that can be rented for pizza and cookies to be made right in front of you.

And most recently, Bell Bakeshop has partnered with Drift Coffee to supply them with their sourdough bread for avocado toast.

Bell Bake Shop may be small in size, however, the contents inside their storefront lead to big flavor. Just make sure that you get there early — products tend to sell out pretty quickly.

*Click here for Bell Bakeshop’s Facebook page.

What’s in My Bag Wednesday: Boston Bruins Edition

This past weekend, my husband and I went to a Bruins game. Figuring out what bag to take was such a hassle, as TD Garden has strict bag rules — a clutch that measures 4 x 6 inches. After going through and measuring bags in my collection, which we all know is massive, I settled on the Longchamp Pouch with handle and added a crossbody strap from a kit from Amazon (commission link, I may earn a small percentage if you were to purchase using that link).

I flew through security with ease, and I was able to carry my basic essentials that I needed for a day out in Boston.

So here’s what I brought to my very first Bruins game:

And best part? There was enough room for my phone if needed.