July Favorites

I still can’t believe that I am sitting here writing the introductory paragraph for my July favorites post. For those of you who may not know, I got married this month, and I have been planning and looking forward to this month pretty much for what seems like forever. Time flies.

I have a lot of random favorites that I would like to share with you, from makeup to jewelry, to more. So, let’s get right into them:

1. Audible: I have been loving audio books. This month, I have been listening to audio books almost 24/7. I credit my obsession with them as being the reason why I have been able to finish a lot more books than I usually would have. I also had to purchase a few additional credits on Audible, which has definitely helped me cross quite a few books off of my TBR.

2. Little Words Project Bracelets: My obsession with this brand began in 2020, when I wore them all the time during COVID. Now, I am falling back in love with them. I credit this largely to the fact that I am now a Little Words Project Brand Ambassador (shameless plug here to use my code BANUTMEG to get 15 percent off), which is perfect for a bracelet obsessed girly like me. One of the most joyous parts about my day is to pick out my words of the day. I even had made a few for my wedding, including one with my wedding date and hashtag. I definitely recommend this to all, because they are truly special and fun to stack up.

3. Rare Beauty Eye Liner: I am currently in my eye liner era, folks. I finally learned how to use it, and I’m enjoying adding it to my everyday lineup of makeup. I also am such a huge fan of Selena Gomez’s makeup line, so naturally, I have her eye liner.

4. Buxom Lip Gloss: This is something that I have had in my bag, and recently tried it in the effort to use it up. I love this lip gloss, because it definitely plumps your lips and gives them a full effect. There are so many different shades, but they are all amazing.

5. Coach Corner Zip Wristlet: I am in my wristlet era, guys. My maids of honor gave me a gorgeous teal one, which was my something blue for my wedding. I then fell in love with it, and subsequently used my birthday coupon to get the brown and black one. It fits my car fob, as well as my cards with ease. The only thing that it doesn’t fit is my phone, which is fine, but worth noting. This makes such a great gift for anyone, but is a great quality wallet for the price. It is also super versatile.

What are your favorites for the month?

What I Wore This Week: Honeymoon Edition

A few weeks ago, I got married and my husband and I went on our honeymoon. We spent a week in Maine, and absolutely loved every minute of it.

While I was taking a break from blogging, I did want to share some of the outfits that I wore on my honeymoon. The temperatures in Maine were colder than they were back in CT, so I wore a variety from jeans and sweatshirts to shorts and sundresses.

Here’s what I wore on my honeymoon.

Day One:

Day one was supposed to be a rainy day, but then cleared up. My husband and I took the time to explore Freeport and their outlets. I absolutely loved exploring Freeport, especially the LL Bean outlet. For this, I wore a pair of jean shorts, a black t-shirt, and Converse. For a bag, I used the Lululemon all night festival bag.

Day Two:

Day two brought rainy skies, so we explored the Maine Mall. For this, I wore a pair of high waisted skinny jeans, my The Bar sweatshirt (totally worth the hype by the way), and a T-shirt from Old Navy underneath. For a bag, I used my Longchamp Le Pliage and my Birkenstock Arizona Sandals.

At night, we went out for dinner, and I switched the jeans for a pair of white pants.

Day Three:

On day three, we explored the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Since it was hot out that day, I wore a pair of linen shorts and a plain white t-shirt. For a bag, I used my Jen and Co Riley Convertible Crossbody bag.

That night, I wore my Aerie sports dress, along with my Converse again, and my Coach Heart Crossbody bag, which was perfect for my honeymoon if you ask me.

Day Four:

Day four was my birthday! To celebrate, we went to the Portland Heat Light and explored the downtown Portland area. For this, I wore my Aerie romper, a pair of checkered Vans, and my Lululemon Micro All Night Festival Bag.

I did not change for dinner that night, but I did have some delicious pizza.

Day Five:

On day five, my husband and I took our dog for a hike on Bradbury Mountain. For that, I wore my Lululemon Align Tank Top, a skort from Athleta, and of course, some sneakers. Furthermore, I also had my Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag, which is the perfect bag to use while hiking. That afternoon, my husband and I took it easy before we went out for dinner.

For dinner, I wore a navy blue dress from LC Lauren Conrad with brown Steve Madden sandals.

Day Six:

On our last full day, my husband and I headed to the Portland Observatory. The view is definitely worth it! For this, I wore a t-shirt and jean shorts. I also wore my white Birkenstocks, and my Large Everywhere Belt Bag from Lululemon.

July Amazon Favorites

Prime Day came and went, and all I bought was a refill of makeup sponges due to the fact it happened while I was on my honeymoon. However, I did want to share some of my favorites that I’ve been obsessively using from Amazon. After all, there is nothing better than a good Amazon find.

Stoney Clover Makeup Dupes: We all know that I love Stoney Clover Lane, but I can’t bring myself to use the real things when it comes to my makeup and skincare. Enter these Stoney Clover Dupes. I have the SKIN and FACE ones, which fit perfectly in the large dupe that I had purchased a few months back. I love these pouches, because they keep all of my cosmetics and skin care products in one place — something that I really love and helps cut down on time spent searching for the correct product.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition: I have an obsession with this Kindle. I am on it for hours a day, and I’ve only charged it a handful of times since I got it back in March. I use this to read in the pool, as well as pretty much anywhere. I do have Kindle Unlimited, which helps me rent books and save money on buying books.

Sunglasses: I love these sunglasses. I got contacts a few months ago, so I wanted to get some fun non prescription glasses. These were amoung my favorites,and they were less than $15.

Pavoi Huggie Hoops: I recently discovered Pavoi, and I am loving these pieces. My favorites are these hoops. They are so comfortable, and they are good if you have multiple piercings like I do as I can wear them in both my first and my second ones. I have the green and the black ones, and they go with so many different outfits.

Cushionare Sandals: I love these sandals. I have both the white and the black, and I use them whenever I go for a walk, to the beach, to the pool, and as slippers. Why? Because they are so comfortable and easy to wear. I love them, and if you buy anything from this post, these are it.

Pavoi Statement Hoops: I’m sure I’m the last one in the world who discovered these hoops, as they are viral. I have the silver ones in almost all of the sizes, and they are so comfortable and lightweight. You can barely tell that they are there, which is something that I really love. You can also get these, like most of Pavoi jewelry pieces, in yellow and rose gold as well.

Friday Faves: July 21, 2023

TGIF! Today is the first Friday since I came back from my honeymoon, and I am so excited to get back in the swing of things. One of the things that I am looking forward to is writing my Friday Faves post. I have a ton of faves that I am so excited to share with you before we go into the weekend, so without further a due, here are this week’s favorites:

1. Little Words Project Bracelets: These bracelets have always been a favorite of mine for years, and now I am so excited to announce that I am officially a Little Words Project ambassador! I placed a huge order from their website, but my favorites as the moment are my Bride one, my breathe, good energy, and my wedding date! I love this brand, because they stand for nothing but good vibes. Please shop my link here, and to get your own for 15% off, use the code BANUTMEG.

2. Audible: I have been obsessively listening to audiobooks while doing a lot of different tasks — working when I can, crocheting, and walking. And, I’ve been enjoying it. I have been able to get through quite a few books on my TBR, which is always a good feeling.

3. Anthropologie Necklace: I picked up this necklace with my birthday coupon, and I am so obsessed with it that I ended up grabbing it in a few different colors. I love this because it’s the perfect pop of color, and is great for summer!

4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: I loved this book, and devoured it on the way home. This tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in the 1950s who gets her own TV show. The dialogue was amazing, and I could not put this charming book down until the very last sentence. I definitely recommend, as it’s definitely worth the hype.

5. Coach Double Zip Wallet: I love this wallet! I picked this up with my Coach Outlet birthday coupon, and I love that I can fit my cards, my car keys, and my phone in one place. It also fits in my bag perfectly. I have the black one, but I definitely want to get a few more colors.

6. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt: I was influenced by my friend Maxine, and I loved this book. It was so beautifully written, and I loved watching the development of the characters. This tells the story of Tova, who lost her son at age 18. Thirty years later, Tova is working at the local aquarium, and befriends Marcellus, an octopus that is held in captivity. Marcellus, a kleptomaniac, tries to connect Tova to what happened to her son. I definitely recommend reading this book if you haven’t already. It is worth the hype.

Life Update: I Got Married

Wow, it’s been over two weeks since I sat down and wrote a post. If you’re not familiar around here, or don’t follow me on Instagram (be sure to follow me here if you don’t), the reason why I haven’t written a blog post is because I got married on July 7, 2023.

Photo Credit: Noella and Scott Photography

My wedding day was one of the best days of my life, easily. Instead of following the traditional route, my husband and I had a small ceremony by the water with our bridal party, parents, and grandparents. We decided to do this so I can ensure that I saw my mom on my wedding day, and to make sure our beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Lucy, can be included. That said, we will be celebrating our marriage in September with our family friends.

Photo credit: Noella and Scott Photography

Doing my wedding this was easily one of the best decisions. My bridesmaid, Marisa, scheduled a bridal yoga session in the morning, which was the perfect way to fill my cup up and relax before the day began. My bridesmaids and I did our own hair and makeup, and it was such a great time getting ready together. The day was filled with so much love and happiness that I want to relive it again and again.

Before I dive into the pictures, I want to take a moment to thank our vendors. Our cake was from Alyssa’s Cakery in Wallingford, our photographer was Noella and Scott Photography, and our flowers were from Graceful Acres. My vendors truly did a wonderful job in making sure the day was special.

Now, without further a due, here are some of my favorite photos, all of which are from Noella and Scott Photography.

June Favorites

June is almost over. This means that 2023 is halfway over, and I am in disbelief on how fast time is flying by. My wedding is one week away, and I’ll be on my honeymoon. Wow. I can’t believe that my wedding day is actually and finally here. Before we dive into that, let’s go over my favorites for the past month:

1. Audible: I’ve been obsessed with audiobooks lately. I listen to books when I’m passively doing things, crocheting, and walking. I’ve listened to two books this month, and it’s amazing to help me plow through my massive TBR book.

2. Briar U series by Elle Kennedy: I binged this series, and have one last book left. I love Elle Kennedy, and she’s officially becoming an auto-buy author for me. These romances are addicting, and are amazing reads.

3. Baggu Medium Crescent Bag: I’ve been obsessively using the neutral one the past two weeks, and it’s my favorite Mary Poppins-type bag. I think that this is a bag that’s been on my favorites list for months, and I’m okay with that. If you’re considering this bag, I highly recommend that you get it. Trust me, your other bags will hate you, but you will love it.

4. And Just Like That: I am so excited that And Just Like That has returned. Say what you want about the show, but Sex and the City will always be my favorite, and this will be my guilty pleasure.

5. Kindle Page Turner: I got this as a gift, and I am so obsessed with it. It makes a great gift for someone who has a Kindle, and it’s definitely worth the money if you’re considering it.

6. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: Yes, this is worth the hype. That’s all I have to say about this.

7. Converse Sneakers: I have been obsessively wearing Converse shoes for the last few weeks. They are so comfortable and they go with everything that I can think of — from dresses to jeans to shorts.

Friday Faves: June 23, 2023

TGIF! This week’s Friday Faves is jam packed with favorites, from books to Amazon to jewelry, and I am so excited to share them with you.

This weekend is the kickoff of a busy season for me. I have my friend’s 30th birthday party, and there are exciting plans for celebration. But, before we get there, I would like to share some of this week’s favorites:

1. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: Everyone is talking about this book on BookTok, and after finishing it earlier this week, I can see why. I reviewed this book in a post earlier this week, and I still stand by my opinion in that post. I definitely recommend picking up this book as soon as you can get your hands on it, because it is in fact worth the hype.

2. Pavoi Huggie Hoops: I recently decided to try these huggie hoops, because I was looking for some CZ studs to wear daily. I got the black and the green, and they are great because they are really comfortable and hypoallergenic. And at the price point, you truly can’t go wrong.

3. Briar U series: Elle Kennedy has done it again. Last month, I devoured the Off-Campus series. This week, I devoured the Briar U series, which is a spin-off of the other books. I’m currently on book 2, and I can not put these books down. I’m currently trying to get through Elle Kennedy’s backlog, and so far, I would say that it’s a success.

4. Baggu Folding Bag: We all know that I am a huge fan of Baggu, especially the medium crescent bag. I recently got a folding Baggu, and I am obsessed. I’ve been carrying it with me to work, to the grocery store, and even out shopping. What I love about this bag is that it makes it so easy to take a reusable bag while out shopping, because when you’re done with it, you can just fold it up to a tiny square. 10/10 recommend.

5. Lululemon Mini Belt Bag: I am obsessed with this little belt bag. Yes, I carry a lot of stuff on the go, but I got this to hold my phone when I’m walking and don’t have any pockets. I then started using this as a bag to take to the gym, and I’m so happy with it. It doesn’t hold much other than my phone, AirPods, and my wallet, but when you’re taking a walk or going to the gym, you really don’t need much more. So far, this is definitely my most-used Lululemon belt bag to date, which is saying a lot because I use my others regularly.

Dockside Brewery Is Your New Summer Hang Out

It’s officially summer time, and the recipe for a perfect summer spot is simple: good food and good vibes. One place that does this perfectly is Milford’s Dockside Brewery. Now, Dockside is not just a brewery. It’s an experience that is enjoyable by all.

Dockside is enjoyable in all four seasons, not just summer. In the wintertime, patrons can reserve their igloos for a good time. In the summer, you can hang out on their deck, facing a gorgeous view.

I visited Dockside this past weekend, and I really enjoyed my visit. We went in the early afternoon, and there was already a bit of a crowd. We had to wait for a few minutes, but the wait was nowhere near what I was expecting. However, I want to note that there was a ton of parking options, which was shocking to me despite the small space.

Now, let’s talk menu. Dockside has an incredible and extensive food and drink menu, so it can satisfy everyone. There’s beer and New Haven style pizza — the perfect combo. But, there’s also apps, sandwiches, wings, and other cocktails. When we went, my fiancé got wings, and I got a chicken gyro in addition to sharing a pretzel. The food came out in a timely manner, and was definitely delicious. The fries were those thick potato wedge fries, and they were so good.

Furthermore, I also would like to talk about the amazing experience that is Dockside. There is so much to do at Dockside it isn’t even funny. There is cornhole, firepits, mini golf, as well as firepits for you and your crew to hang out in. Add in the gorgeous view, and you got yourself a great day.

Overall, Dockside is definitely the perfect place to create some summer memories this summer.

Was The Fourth Wing Worth The Read?

As a millennial reaching her 30s, it’s safe to say that I was raised with addicting fantasy novels, such as Harry Potter, Twilight, the Hunger Games, and Divergent — just to name a few. My literary taste has quickly turned into more romantic reads, however, I occasionally found fantasy that was beyond addicting, such as the ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) and the Outlander series. However, there is a new book that is quickly joining the list of series that I just have to grab the second I finish the last sentence. That is Rebecca Yarros’ the Fourth Wing, the first book in the Empyrean series.

This is Yarros’ first fantasy read, as her previous works consists of romance reads such as The Things We Left Unfinished, The Last Letter, and Great and Precious Things. However, Fourth Wing has gone viral, and getting a physical copy of the book is near impossible.

The book tells the story of Violet Sorrengial, who was perfectly content in living a life in a quiet life as a scribe. In fact, that is what she was destined to do. Instead, she was ordered to be a dragon rider, at the command of her general mother. The novel follows Violet through her war college training, as well as a hot and steamy romance between Violet and Xaden.

So, I have a lot to say about this book.

The first thing that I wanted to say was that it was absolutely worth the hype on BookTok. I know that copies are scare and hard to come by, however, trust me it is worth finding. I could not put this book down, and I was engrossed in every single sentence of this read.

Secondly, I wanted to discuss the romance between Xaden and Violet, because there was a lot to unpack. It was a delicious hate to love relationship, with a sprinkle of spice throughout the novel’s 600 pages. While reading this book, I couldn’t help but feel something for the characters, along with their angst. And, while I loved reading about their romance, I also loved reading about the characters individually. For example, I found myself rooting for Violet as she grew stronger and more and more like a badass.

Furthermore, I loved the dragons in the novel as well, and I enjoyed their own characteristics. But, honestly, there is nothing bad about this book whatsoever in my humble opinion.

What is also amazing about this series is that Rebecca Yarros has confirmed on her TikTok that the series is “plotted out for five” books, with the second in the series set to be released on November 7th, 2023. As a reader who is addicted to the series, I appreciate this, because it gives us time to savor the books, but we also don’t have to wait a long time in between each book like with some other series that I’ve mentioned. In fact, I already preordered my copy, as I want to make sure that I get my hands on it as soon as possible.

Friday Faves: June 16, 2023

TGIF! This is the first blog post that I have written in a few days, as I’ve spent the majority of this week in bed due to a sciatic nerve pain that was honestly the worst pain that I’ve ever had to endure. So, needless to say, most of this post is some of the entertainment I’ve had to do this week while I’ve been in bed, so if you’re looking for good book and TV recommendations, look no further.

1. Jennifer Weiner Books: I have had a few of her books on my TBR for at least three years, and I finally picked up That Summer and Big Summer. I couldn’t put them down. I loved both of these books, and I have In Her Shoes and The Summer Place ready to go. I will say that these books were perfect for summer, and I can’t wait to check a few more off of my list.

2. The White Lotus: I am really late to this party, but I started to binge watch this show while crocheting. I am only halfway through the first season, but I’ve been enjoying it thus far!

3. Kindle Remote: I got this as a bridal shower gift, and I am obsessed. I love that I can relax in bed and not have to reach over to my Kindle to turn the page. I also love that this makes it so easy to relax and read in bed if you have a dog. If you know someone who has a Kindle, this is an amazing gift.

4. Evil Eye Bracelets: This little evil eye shop on Etsy has amazing quality evil eye bracelets for a great price! I purchased a few different colors, and I am obsessed. I stack them with other bracelets, but they also look good on their own.

5. Baggu Medium Crescent Bag: Due to how lightweight it is, I have become obsessed with this bag once again. I started to use this bag as my everyday bag, and I am loving it. If you’re not new here, I have an obsession with this purse. I love that it’s comfortable to wear. I love that it can be worn crossbody. I also love that it fits everything but the kitchen sink, but still looks compact.