5 Things That Help With My Anxiety

Anxiety has been something that I’ve dealt with since my college days. However, during this past year, I’ve had to really take a pause to give myself the care that I absolutely needed. That being said, I wanted to share some of the things that have been helping me lately.

1. Yoga: According to an article on ScienceDaily entitled Yoga shown to improve anxiety, study shows, a study conducted at New York University showed that 54 percent of participants showed improvements of anxiety over a 12-week period of time by using both yoga and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). I was prescribed yoga when I first started to have severe panic attacks that caused me to feel dizzy. I now do it nearly every day in the morning, and it allows me to take a much needed pause. One of my favorite ways to do yoga is through the YouTube channel, Yoga with Adriene, which has a ton of videos to choose from.

2. Cardio: I have had a rocky relationship with working out especially over the last year. However, I find that doing cardio workouts, such as Jazzercise on Demand or running, helps clear my mind and gives me endorphins (who remembers Elle Woods saying that exercise makes people happy and happy people don’t kill their husbands in Legally Blonde?) Do I still dread working out in the morning? Yes. However, it puts me in a better mood than if I were to do HIIT.

3. Fresh air: According to an article on the APA website entitled Nutured by Nature, there are several benefits to spending time outside, including cognitive ones. The article says that research has shown that both the sight and sounds of nature have therapeutic benefits. Now, this one is hard to do, especially when I work in an office from 9 to 5. However, I try to get outside whenever I can, whether it’s waiting for the train outside on the platform, walking my dog, or just sitting outside. I always find that even just a small amount of time outside is better than nothing.

4. Putting my peace first: One of the hardest things that I have had to do was learn the word no when I need to. As a chronic people pleaser, I have the natural inclination to say yes to everything — even when it may not be best for me. However, lately I’ve been listening to my body and trying to give it rest when it needs it. It may not be something that everyone wants to hear, however, I know that it’s something that I need to do for me.

5. Making time for the things that I love: Last but certainly not least, I’ve been making time for things that make me happy. My hobbies, reading, music, and even time to just watch a show. I used to work a position that had cut my free time in half. Now that I am no longer in that role, I have the time to do other things that I love. And, that has helped with my mental health so much.

Friday Faves: March 17, 2023

TGIF and Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! I hope that everyone enjoys the holiday safely. I will be home watching the latest episodes of Daisy Jones and the Six. But, before we get to our weekend plans, I want to take a moment to share some of my favorites:

Spinelli Killcollin Solarium Ring: I was influenced by watching one of Michele1218’s videos, where she unboxed hers (you can check out her unboxing video here). Her ring, which is a rose gold, diamond, and gold, is gorgeous. I ended up getting this in the all silver, and I am obsessed. I love this ring, because it’s something that you can wear in different ways. Personally, I wear all three stacked on my middle finger, but the option is there. I am blown away from the customer service from this brand. They reached out to me a few times before sending the ring off. What is nice about this brand is that you can customize the rings, so you can have it in all silver, two-toned, or even gold. I love that, because I love having the ability to customize the piece.

Baggu Medium Crescent Bag: You can check out what’s in my bag in this post here. I recently switched from my work tote bag to this one, and I am obsessed. I got the green one, and let me tell you I am obsessed with this color. Urban Outfitters finally had the black version of this in stock, and I’m so excited to get another color of this. What I love about this bag is that it is so comfortable and easy to wear. Plus, it fits everything that I need it to, which is always a good thing.

YouTube: I have been binge watching so many YouTubers as of late. Some of my new favorites are Michele1218 and Reese Wonge, and I have been binge watching their videos as a way to unwind.

Miranda Frye Cuff: Another jewelry favorite that is new in my collection is the Miranda Frye Cuff in silver. I have been obsessed with the Cartier Love bracelet for the last few years, but I am not so obsessed with this price. I saw this on Michele Vidal, and I am obsessed with this version. I can see this working so well with the other pieces that I have in my jewelry collection, but I also can see this being great worn on its own.

Park Lane Has the Ultimate Dior Dupe

The Dior Tribales earrings are a gorgeous and classic pair of earrings. They also are $470, which is a hefty price to pay for a pair of earrings that are basically costume pieces. I mean who has that type of money for costume pieces? I certainly do not.

Enter Park Lane, who has a great dupe for only $30. The Dovey earrings look like the Tribales earrings’ twin sister, but without the price tag. I have been eying these earrings, but I can’t bring myself to spend that amount for essentially costume jewelry.

I got these in a few days ago, and I already can tell you that I’m really excited to use these in the spring. Pearls add such a classy touch to any outfit, and these definitely are no exception.

What is really unique about these earrings is that there are two ways to wear them: altogether, and or with the post earrings with a butterfly back. This definitely gives you more bang for your buck, which is something that allows you to use this in multiple ways.

With that being said, I also wanted to point out that these earrings will work with you if you’re like me and you have two piercings that are right next to each other. You would have to wear a smaller earring like I have in my second piercing, but you can still have earrings in both.

I also would like to add one other thing. I have the world’s most sensitive ears when it comes to jewelry and these do not bother me whatsoever. When I first wanted to order pieces from Park Lane, I was a tad bit skeptical because it is really hard for me to wear costume pieces because my ears will either be itchy or uncomfortable. That is not the case here, because they did not hurt or turn my ears green whatsoever.

So far, I’ve worn these to work a few times this past week, however, I can see these making their way into my jewelry box rotation. I also can see myself wearing these for my bridal shower later this year. What I love about these earrings is that they can be worn for both dressy and casual occasions.

That said, this dupe is definitely worth looking into if you want the look for a whole lot less.

(Please note, I got these through Michele Vidal’s page. You can search for her on the Park Lane website.)

What’s In My Bag Wednesday: Baggu Medium Crescent Bag

On this episode of TikTok made me do it, I have the Baggu medium crescent bag. This bag has gone viral and is currently sold out in several different colors on the Baggu website (although they do plan to restock in early April). I recently scored the avocado green one from Urban Outfitters, and love it. I’ve only had it for a few days, but the bag is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Even though I’ve only had the bag for a few days, I wanted to share what it fits since it’s so popular. My initial first impressions are that this bag is so deceiving. It looks small, but it still holds all of the essentials that make it the perfect everyday bag.

Additionally, this bag fits so comfortably and is so lightweight. What I like about it is that this is a simple bag, but it is so versatile. It can be worn as both a crossbody and a shoulder bag. I have the avocado green one, and I can already tell that this is not only the perfect basic bag, but also the perfect spring bag.

Here’s what fits in the Baggu Medium Crescent.

Stratford’s Cakes by Sonia Offers Sugary Delights That Are Almost Too Pretty to Eat

When walking into Stratford’s Cakes by Sonia, you are immediately greeted with the mouth watering scent of freshly baked goodies — fulfilling its promise of confections baked daily. Located just off Barnum Avenue, this little shop is definitely one to visit to get your sweet tooth fix.

Cakes by Sonia offers a variety of desserts from cookies to cupcakes, as well as perfectly decorated cakes that are almost too gorgeous to consume. Almost. And while they look amazing, they taste just as fresh and delicious that make it worth eating these beautiful treats.

The cupcake variety is insane here. While this is a smaller sized bakery, there are quite a few flavors to choose from. Of course, there are the traditional vanilla and chocolate flavors, but there are also fun and unique flavors such as Dunkeroo, Strawberry Oreo, and even some boozy cupcakes.

Furthermore, Cakes by Sonia also offers other treats as well, such as dessert cups, brownies, cookies and more.

While I briefly mentioned the scent of the bakery, I want to first talk about how gorgeous this place is. The walls are painted pink, and there are little details everywhere that make it a perfect photo opportunity. I mean, this is expected for a place that decorates its cupcakes so beautifully, but still.

Finally, I wanted to talk about the price of the cupcakes. For four cupcakes, it cost a little over $10, which isn’t bad for cupcakes. For the quality of the way the cupcakes both look and taste, I believe that they are worth every penny and will definitely be returning again in the future.

Friday Faves: March 10, 2023

TGIF! I am so excited to share this week’s favorites, as they are a little bit all over the place. I am also excited for the weekend, as I am hoping to just have some time to relax as I currently dive into more wedding planning things. Before we clock out for the day, let’s take a moment to reflect on this week’s favorites:

Teleties Medium Hair clip: This hairclip is a game changer. I still had some claw clips that I purchased from Amazon in 2020 that are still in the rotation. However, I purchased these from Tickled Pink and these are a game changer. I have been using them while working out, and they held my hair so well. Furthermore, this clip is just so comfortable. It’s curved, so you can move around freely and lie down without the pain of your claw clip at the back of your head. This clip also comes in a size small and a size large. And, they are marketed to be unbreakable. If you’re interested in purchasing, be sure to use this link to get 15 percent off your first purchase at Tickled Pink (in which I’ll get some credit to use there).

Daisy Jones and the Six: I am so excited to finish this next episode tonight. I binge watched the first three episode last weekend, and I am so hooked. I loved the Taylor Jenkins Reid book, and I highly recommend checking the book out if you’re hooked on the show like I am. And, the soundtrack is absolutely amazing. If interested, this is on Amazon Prime TV.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition: I recently decided that it was time to upgrade my three year old Kindle Oasis because I read a lot (like hours on hours) and I was charging my Kindle every other day. So, I decided to try this one. So far, I am impressed with it. The battery life is amazing. In one week of use, the battery went down about 21 percent. This is with the front light on, and the WIFI sometimes on to download books from Kindle Unlimited. I also am also curious to use the wireless charging as well.

Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score: I read the viral Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score last year. I read this book earlier this week. It is about Nash, the good Morgan brother, and Lina. It takes place after the first one, and tells the story of their romance. Guys, I loved this book. This is only my second Lucy Score novel, but I am sure that I am going to catch up on her bibliography in the next few months because I need book three ASAP.

Rare Beauty Lip Gloss in Nearly Rose: I have been using this lip gloss religiously for the last few weeks and it has quickly become my go-to. I am such a huge fan of Rare Beauty (thanks TikTok) even before the drama between Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber, and I wanted to share this lip gloss because I’ve been reaching for it so much.

5 Tips to Read More

Over the last few years, I’ve been doing a lot more reading than ever before. I blame that partially on the fact that I am no longer a college student who has to read for English class. That said, I have been reading on average 100 books per year, which is a lot. So I wanted to share some of the tips that I have to help you get more reading time in.

1. Make time for reading.

I think the number one thing when it comes to reading more is making time to read more. Simple right? It doesn’t have to be a lot either. You can read a half of an hour before bed or with your coffee when you wake up. I personally read every morning with a cup of coffee, and it’s a good way to get some pages in before starting the day.

2. Read what you like.

Reading is supposed to be fun. Therefore, why read something that is not interesting to you or something that just isn’t peaking your interest? I am so bad at stopping books, because I always want to give books a chance. Sometimes, you just got to put the book down and read something else. And, just because you put a book down doesn’t mean that you’ll never read it. There might be a time when you feel like is a better time for you to read the book. For example, it took me three tries to actually get through Game of Thrones, because it was such a dense and thick book. I finally finished it in 2018. I personally recommend you DNF-ing books, because it will take you twice as long to read a book that you really don’t like versus one or two books that you’re excited to read.

3. Get a Kindle/Nook.

Okay, I get it. There is something about holding a physical book. However, my ereader is my BFF because it fits in my purse and I can take it everywhere. What’s nice about an ereader is that you can also carry many books on one single device, which makes it so easy to carry your entire library, versus having to lug a few books around.

4. Listen to your stories.

I love audiobooks, but I can be picky when it comes to what I actually listen to. One of the reasons why I love audiobooks is because you can just listen to it while you’re doing just about anything else. I listen to books while I’m walking, doing chores, and even while I am blogging. It’s also fun to read books when an author reads them to you as well.

5. Bring your book everywhere.

My last tip is to bring your book everywhere. This is why the ereader is my BFF. I bring books with me when I wait at doctor’s offices, breaks at work, or any time I know that I am going to be waiting. It makes the time go by so much faster and I get a chunk of my book done as well. Win-win.

Is the Coach Nolita 19 Worth the Price?

It was about a year ago when I saw this on the Coach Outlet website. A black leather Coach Nolita 19. I thought this would be the perfect bag to carry the bare essentials. It is also a great bag to carry inside a larger tote bag, which is something that I always love having for when I just run in and grab my coffee or just want to make a quick errand.

The Coach Nolita bag is one of the most simple bags. She is a little pouch, with two card slots on one side, and a little pouch on the other.

I currently have six Nolita bags: the black leather one, the cherry one, the Snoopy one, the leopard print one, the dark brown signature and denim (and don’t worry, if they are still available on the Coach Outlet website, they will be linked). The price on this does vary depending on the Coach Outlet sales. The best way to make sure that you’re getting the best deal is to check the website constantly. I do not purchase ones from every single collection, but as I find ones that have meaning to me, I do like to grab them.

So, is this bag worth it?

My answer is yes for many reasons. The first is that this tiny bag surprisingly fits so much. I can fit my Louis Vuitton Recto Verso, my Touchland Hand Sanitzer, a Chapstick, and my iPhone 14 Pro. I used this last week (my fiancé was driving so I didn’t need to have my car remote) to run some errands and it was just so easy. I’ve also used this bag with just the basics for me, which is: Louis Vuitton Recto Verso, my Six Ring Key Holder, and my car key, which is attached to the Recto Verso.

The second is how functional this bag truly is. Yes, this bag is small. But, there are multiple ways to wear this. The two that I personally use it for is a wristlet and as a catch all. But, I’ve seen people on TikTok get a crossbody strap and attach it to use as a crossbody (something that I am considering to get the cost per wear down even further), and add a little chain so that way it can be worn as a shoulder bag as well. I personally think that taking a look at the different ways that you can wear it is crucial when you are going to make a purchase. If you know it’s something that you are going to use everyday for multiple purposes, then for me, it’s worth the investment.

Finally, this bag is a great dupe for the Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessories and the mini pochette. If you haven’t heard, these items have increased in price both on the Louis Vuitton website and on the resale market. And, they are not coming down. But, this is a fraction of the price of those and has leather. Plus, it’s Coach so you know that it’s a good quality item.

Plus, this bag is just a fun little bag to add to your collection. Whenever the Coach Outlet does its drops, the Nolita always has a print of its own — and is usually the first piece to sell out (usually it’s something that is on the cheaper side of each drop). And, it’s something that is so fun to add to your day to day life. With its affordable price point, you can collect a few that not only go with everything but is something that you can have some fun with.

After all, isn’t that the point of fashion?

Friday Faves: March 3, 2023

Happy Friday everyone! It is the first Friday in March, and it is snowing here in CT. As much as I love a good snow day, I am ready for spring, guys. I have a very light weekend in terms of plans, so I am excited to just get some time to relax. I have some TV shows I need to binge, so I am sure that my weekend will be spent doing that. But, before we sign off of work for the weekend, here are this week’s Friday Faves:

Kindle Unlimited: I am so late to the Kindle Unlimited party, and I am not mad about it. Many of the books that I am looking to read are not available on my Nook, which is annoying. However, they are in fact available on Kindle Unlimited. If you are not familiar with Kindle Unlimited, it is basically like Blockbuster for books. You can rent up to 20 books at a time, which if you’re an average to heavy reader like me, that’s more than you read in a month. I have found so many good books out there, including The Perfect Marriage, which is a book that I could not put down this week.

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose: This book was a wild ride. Imagine having to defend your husband as he’s being accused of murder of his mistress. Yup. That is basically the summary of this book, and I could not put this one down. It is on Kindle Unlimited, so if you have that, be sure to check this one out.

Hoo Hoops: Y’all know that I am a hoop girl through and through. I am always on the hunt for a good pair of hoops. And, these are definitely my new obsession. These are hoops that are both hypoallergenic and light weight. I stumbled on Hoo Hoops while scrolling on Instagram. After a few weeks of hemming and hawing, I decided to pick them up. And, I am obsessed. I have a few colors, and they are one of the most comfortable earrings that I own. And, they are so fun. I already have a few more pairs on my radar, which I am sure will be added to my collection in the near future.

Love is Blind: I am binging Love is Blind. We had a snow day, and I basically binged season two so I can be caught up on it before the new season releases later this month. I also wanted to watch Daisy Jones and the Six, so I knew I needed to wrap this show up first. And, I am addicted. I am a reality TV junkie so I am always drawn into the drama, which is okay.

Budha Girl Tzubbie Bangle: I have been talking about my love for Budha Girl bangles so much lately, and that’s perfectly fine. I picked this up during their Super Bowl sale, and I absolutely love it. I pair of with another color of bangles for a chunky touch. I also can see myself wearing it on its own, or layering it with other dainty pieces. I have the silver, but I want to add a few other colors to stack.

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings: This book is all over BookTok so I decided to pick this one up. The best way to describe this book is that is a mixture of Gossip Girl and the After series. It is about BJ Ballantine and Magnolia Parks, who are meant to be together but can’t. BJ cheated on Magnolia while she was sick. So she should stay away. But, she can’t. This book is the first of a series of four, and I managed to finish the first in a period of 24 hours. It is available on Kindle Unlimited, which is really nice as well.

Cafe Atlantique: Small Town Coffee Shop with Big Flavor

I am a sucker when it comes to coffee shops. Even though I don’t drink as much coffee as I used to, I still love the vibe of sitting down in a coffee shop by myself with a book and a delicious drink. Milford’s Cafe Atlantique does just that — and is an amazing brunch spot to check out.

But first, let’s talk coffee. Cafe Atlantique has the standard coffee shop menu — hot/iced coffee, lattes, cold brews and more. What I love about them is that they have such an extensive list of coffee flavors. Over the years I’ve been to the cafe, I’ve had sugar cookie coffee, and have seen Almond Joy on the menu as well. Their coffee is so delicious. And, even though they do have flavoring, it doesn’t taste sugary or artificial which is something that I really enjoy.

However, their coffee is just grazing the surface of their menu. Cafe Atlantique also has a huge variety of teas to choose from too if coffee is not your thing.

When it comes to food, they have a huge variety of breakfast items including: muffins, bagels, avocado toast, and more. For lunch, they have a variety of paninis and salads as well. Sandwiches come with a side bean salad, which is so delicious. In addition to sandwiches, they also have crepes that are both sweet and savory. I’m talking Nutella crepes, which is something that makes my mouth water. And of course, we can not forget their variety of baked goods. They have an assortment of treats supplied from Kathy’s Cookies, and they are definitely worth the splurge.

But, what makes a good coffee shop in my opinion is not the food it serves or the coffee that is being poured. It is the community. Cafe Atlantique has live performances, and is an inviting place for people to gather. There are so many events held here, such as open mikes and more.

However, Cafe Atlantique has that cozy coffee shop feeling that makes people feel at home. This is a great place to get coffee to catch up with friends, have a lunch meeting, study, or just hang out.

I am going to end this post on a honest note. Cafe Atlantique has become my go-to lately. I’ve been going there for years, but lately I’ve been coming in for a cup of their chamomile tea. However, my favorites also include the pesto chicken panini and the avocado toast. And, each and every time I try something different on the menu, I get more and more impressed, so I am sure that I will be adding to that list over time. After all, when you find a gem like this, you definitely want to explore their menu overtime.