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.
Sunday has been known to produce the Sunday Scaries for me, even now that I am no longer burnt out at a job that I didn’t love. However, in the effort to help combat that as well as to come up with new post ideas for Blogtober, I am sharing some of my Sunday inspiration that has motivated me in the past week or so. It can be anything from TikTok to in real life. I’m sure as time goes on, these lists will be a little more lengthy, but this is my first week, so give your girl a break…
So, without further a due, here are what’s inspiring me on this Sunday morning.
1. Chey: Chey is a TikToker who posts a lot of content relating to junk journaling and journaling in general. Her posts have been really inspiring to me, because it has inspired me to step up my journaling game. I have been getting into junk journaling a lot lately, and I can only see it becoming a hobby in the coming months.
2. Jewelry TikTok: I have also found myself on the side of jewelry TikTok as well. Two people that I follow are Jenna, who has inspired me to create amazing stacks of Little Words Project bracelets and even lead to me becoming an ambassador for the brand (use my code BAnutmeg to save), and Alexis Nido-Russo, the founder of Local Eclectic Jewelry. Watching jewelry TikTok has inspired me to play around with pieces that I have in my collection, as well as try to be a little more creative in my fashion.
Lately, I’ve been doing some thinking about investment pieces in our closets. An investment piece is defined at most as being a piece of clothing/accessory that is a closet staple that will be worn for years to come. For some, this is a handbag. For others, it is a pair of shoes. With items like these, the cost per wear is practically nothing, because it is being worn all of the time, or on the regular for most seasons. Like, if you live in New England like I do, a nice good quality coat that keeps you warm is an important investment piece to any wardrobe.
That said, there is a fine line of justifying the purchase of an investment piece and something that is overpriced and not worth the money. What makes an investment piece worth the price is the quality. For example, one of my favorite pieces in my closet for work are my Spanx pants. They fit wonderfully, and even though I wear them weekly, they still look amazing.
However, the thing is, what makes an investment piece of clothing unique is that something that I can qualify as an investment piece for me, won’t work for you. This is due to personal style, lifestyle, and so much more.
So, how can you tell that an item in your wardrobe will be an investment piece versus something that you would later regret?
The best advice I can give to anyone is to try to find the pieces that you reach for the most, fits well (if applicable), looks great, is comfortable, and goes with the other items in your closet. These pieces will work wonderfully in different situations, and with different pieces of clothing in general.
Let’s take the Spanx pants as an example. They are comfortable, and since they are black pants, they go with a number of different things, from sweaters to blouses. And, they are in the wash almost weekly to the point where I decided to get a second pair, as well as a few other colors in different materials.
What are pieces in your wardrobe that you consider investment pieces?
TGIF! Even though it has been a short week for me, I am feeling so exhausted. I have carefully made sure that this weekend is a weekend for me to just relax in comfy clothes and watching TV. I am so excited for that, you have no idea.
Before I get to my weekend of self care, I want to take the time to share with you some of my favorites of the week:
1. Coachtopia Ergo Bag: There definitely will be more content about this bag in the near future, but I just want to share how obsessed I am with this bag. I got the largest size that it comes in, and I love how simple and classic it is. It is such a high quality dupe of the Prada Cleo. This bag will definitely be a part of my bag collection for a long time.
2. Our Whole Heart Bracelets: If you’re a returning reader around here, you know that I love a good bracelet. I bought the hamsa and the Italian horn on, and they have been on repeat all of this week.
3. Grogu Weighted Stuffed Animal:I love Grogu, and I have always wanted to get one of the Disney weighted plushies. And, I love it. It has been really helpful with trying to get to sleep faster, as well as with my anxiety.
There is one stop that I make on my way to work without fail. That is the trip to Starbucks. I am a zombie without my daily fix of coffee. Fall is definitely my favorite time of year in terms of flavors, between the basic PSL to the new fall flavors.
This year has been the year that I have been conducting science experiments when it comes to my coffee. Since we don’t gate keep around here, I wanted to share some of my go-tos lately so you can enjoy your little cup of joe.
1. Pumpkin Spiced Latte: I love pumpkin spice, and this is probably one of the more simple of the drinks that I will share with you, but it’s a classic for a reason. It is so good, and is great for the days when you want something good without thinking about it.
2. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso with Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam and 2 pumps of Toffee Nut Syrup: I don’t like toffee, but don’t be fooled by that. This tastes exactly like the cookie butter at Trader Joe’s. It is a little expensive, so I definitely recommend getting this one on a double star day or on a treat yourself day.
3. Iced Shaken Espresso with Brown Sugar Syrup, 2 pumps of Classic syrup, and pumpkin syrup: This one definitely feels like fall in a cup, and I have no complaints. This one is a little less expensive than the one I just previously mentioned, but it’s still really good.
4. Iced Starbucks Blonde Latte with Pumpkin Syrup: This fall was the season where I discovered the blonde espresso, and this one was so good. This one has a lot of calories, but I definitely savor this when I order this one.
5. Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso: Last but certainly not least, I wanted to share the newest drink on the menu. This one tastes like apple pie, and is so delicious!
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