Merry Christmas all! Trader Joe’s is one of my favorite places to get snacks, and this year, I did not feel like baking Christmas cookies this year. So, I decided to create this board instead. I also would like to thank my future mother in law for the design assistance.
Yogurt Pretzels
Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Chocolatey Coated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers
Peppermint Joe Joe Cookies
Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
There are so many different options out there, but this is definitely something that is so easy to do but it still is pretty fun.
It is no secret that the luxury market has become more and more inflated. Prices at Louis Vuitton and Chanel have skyrocketed, making them more and more not worth the price. However, one of my favorite ways to get the “look for less” is through designer consignment. Over the past year, I’ve purchased so many of the hot designer bags for a fraction of their new price. Some of these bags honestly may not be the exact same as their new counterparts, but they are definitely a close comparison. And, with the quality going down, I can honestly say that my vintage bags are definitely a lot better made than the ones I’ve purchased new. So, without further a due, here are some vintage bags to check out before adding the new ones to your cart.
1. Louis Vuitton Odeon:
I loved the Louis Vuitton Odeon and came this close to purchasing it at the Louis Vuitton store. I am so glad I didn’t because I ended up getting a Louis Vuitton Bloomsbury, which was a much better purchase compared to the Odeon because I paid less than half of the current retail price for it. I will note that it was so hard to find a bag in good condition for a price I was willing to pay, so I recommend checking everywhere for it.
2. Gucci Crossbody:
I fell in love with the Gucci Crossbody a while ago and almost bought it on Fashionphile. However, I waited too long and the bag was sold by the time I was ready to add it to my cart. I then searched for it on Poshmark and found one for about half of the Fashionphile price, but in good vintage condition. I will note that this one is not the crossbody bag, but the rather the shoulder one, however, it is still worth the price difference if you ask me.
3. Fendi Bageutte:
“It’s not a bag, it’s a baguette!” Thank you Carrie Bradshaw for making this bag oh so popular. This bag has made a huge comeback, including the Fendi Mama Zucca one. I have both a smaller and a larger one, both of which are vintage. The new ones are on the Fendi website, and let me tell you, those bags are over $3,200. I paid less than $1,000 for my two. For these, I would check out sites like Poshmark, the RealReal and Fashionphile, as well as local consignment stores. I love this bag because it does fit a lot, and I am so happy that I got these.
4. Gucci Jackie
This is probably the only bag that I do not actually own on this list, but it’s one that I think is definitely worth checking out. The new Jackie retails for $2,400 to $3,600 depending on what size you’re looking for. However, if you go looking on the vintage websites, you can find many under $500. Definitely worth looking into if you ask me.
5. Prada Nylon Bag:
The re-edition of this bag has been popular for the last few years. On Prada’s website, it’s $1250 for the shoulder bag. I’ve found mine for $200 at a local consignment shop. These bags are perfect for summer, and so easy to use. I highly recommend checking out sites like Fashionphile, and Poshmark for a vintage one, because you get the Prada quality for a lot less.
Happy Friday before Christmas, everyone! As we frantically get ready for the holiday, I wanted to share some of my favorites of the week. So, be sure to keep reading to learn more.
All I Want For Christmas By Maggie Knox: This is one of my favorite reads of the holiday season to date. Basically, it’s a fake dating trope that takes place at a singing competition. I am about 38 percent of the way in at the time of writing this, and I am absolutely obsessed with the book. If you have the time, I highly recommend checking it out.
JoJo Loves You Plaid Stud Earrings: I love JoJo Loves You earrings. They are about $25, and they are so comfortable to wear. I’ve collected so many, but they honestly have a pair of earrings to go with every outfit. I am highly considering ordering a set to give to my bridesmaids when I get married next year. I highly recommend the ultra mini if you’re like me and have two piercings that are close together.
Madewell Demi Fine Hoops: These earrings are so comfortable. I got them on Black Friday and they are the perfect pair of hoops that you can wear every single day. And, I love it. I highly recommend snagging these during a sale, they will become a staple in your closet.
JoJo Loves You Emerald Earrings: Another pair of JoJo Loves You earrings, this time in emerald. These earrings are so comfortable and the emerald crystals are gorgeous. 10/10 recommend these as a gift or even as a fun pair to wear during Christmas.
The Christmas spirit has arrived at the Milford Green with beautifully lit trees, sparkling icles, and snowmen lining Broad Street greeting cars as they drive on by. Seeing the Milford Green lit up this time of year has been a tradition of mine every year, and it holds even more special meaning to me, because that’s where my fiancé proposed to me last year. Many of the decorations have remained the same, but it is still fun to take a walk around.
If you head away from the downtown area, there is a tree on the duck pond as well as one right behind City Hall. Those I unfortunately was not able to grab photos of, but I highly recommend checking them out while doing last minute shopping in the downtown area.
Finally, what was the most breathtaking was the buoy tree, which is behind Scoopy Doo’s on Lisman’s Landing. This is one of the newer traditions, but it’s still amazing to look at nonetheless.
Be sure to keep reading to see all of my photos of the beautifully lit decorations, however, I highly recommend taking the drive to look at them yourself, because the photos do not do it justice:
Ornaments, gingerbread houses, and sparkling lights are covering Mill River Park in Stamford this holiday season thanks to Stamford’s Holiday Stroll. The stroll is a interactive and a beautiful way to get into the Christmas spirit for all ages.
The Holiday Stroll goes from November 18 to December 24. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but it is encouraged to purchase them online by going here. Tickets are $20 per person.
I went to the Holiday Stroll with my fiancé this past weekend, and it was the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. As mentioned earlier, Mill River Park was lit up so beautifully, and had displays of reindeer, ornaments, and of course, Santa Claus himself makes an appearance. There were so many spots that made me stop and ask my fiancé to take photos, to which he happily obliged.
In addition to the beautiful lights, the Holiday Stroll also has a little fair at the end of the trail, which offers confections and rides. Nathan’s Hotdogs, and a tent from Blind Rhino which has an indoor bar definitely added to the fun. Between the lights and the rides, the Holiday Stroll is something that has something for everyone at every age. After all, there is nothing like a Christmas carnival to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Overall, the Holiday Stroll in Stamford was definitely worth the trip. That said, there are two things that I would like to advise you of. If you do choose to go is to make sure you get there early enough, because parking can be tricky. My fiancé and I spent about 15 minutes looking for a spot, and we had to park farther away. Thankfully, parking was not terribly expensive, which is always a good thing. In addition, be sure to dress warmly, because it did get chilly walking around.
That said, I definitely enjoyed it, and it made a memorable date night with my fiancé. However, if you’re a single pringle, that doesn’t mean that you can’t go. This event is a great event to go with your friends as well. And, if you have little ones, this is definitely something they would enjoy. But, no matter who you end up go with, this is a great place to create some memories.
I am going to be honest, I was never much for the color green. However, this season, I found myself drawn to forest/emerald colors to the point where I added a new sweater and sweatshirt from Aerie to my collection.
What is great about this deep forest green is that it can be worn with so many things. I can wear it with black pants or brown, which makes styling it for work a complete breeze. And of course, I can dress it down with a pair of jeans as well. Versatility is key, guys.
This color is also amazing for all of the holiday looks as well. I mean green is perfect for Christmas, right?
If you’ve been looking for a little pop of color for all of your holiday looks this holiday season, emerald green is it. Emerald seems to be the big color this season — from bags to jewelry, because it’s a neutral mixed with a pop of color it will in fact go with what you already own.
The Connecticut Convention Center is illuminating the downtown Hartford area with Glow Hartford. Glow Hartford is an indoor holiday light festival and market where guests can walk around, enjoy holiday confections, and of course, take plenty of pictures.
Glow Hartford has been illuminating the Connecticut Convention Center since November 25, 2022 and will run daily through January 1, 2023. If you do end up deciding to go, I highly recommend going during the week, because you can save 30 percent off your tickets.
There are several different locations of Glow, however, the Hartford one seems to be the only one located in the U.S. Glow has different entry times that you can go in, there is no time limit whatsoever. They have a lengthy FAQ section, so I highly recommend checking that out if you’re considering going.
First and foremost, let’s talk about the lights. The Connecticut Convention Center is lit up with so many gorgeous lights — with Christmas trees, reindeer and of course, Santa himself. There are different sections of lights with various winter and Christmas themes. And, each of these sections are perfect for taking pictures. If anything, I’d say that the lights alone are worth the trip alone. And, there are a ton of great spots to snap a cute pic for the ‘gram. And to add onto the Christmas spirit, Santa himself makes an appearance in case anyone wants to share a Christmas list.
Secondly, there is a little section at the end of it that sells so many different types of food, including fried dough, Mac and cheese, candy, and pizza. I am lactose intolerant so there was not a ton of dairy free options, but there were definitely a few to choose from. In addition to the food, the drinks deserve their own little shoutout. For the price of $8, you can purchase a souvenir cup that is shaped like a Christmas bulb that actually lights up. They also have a few signature drinks as well.
Finally, Glow Hartford has a cute little market full of handmade goods for you to purchase, as well as merch.
I went to Glow Hartford a few days ago with my friends, and I am so blown away from the event. It was definitely the perfect event to go to to get into the Christmas spirit, and I believe that there is truly something for kids from 1 to 92. You can purchase your Glow Hartford tickets here.
We are finally back with one of my favorite posts to write. This time, we are finally getting into the cozy winter outfits. You know the ones with thick cozy sweaters and boots. My favorite. Here are the outfits that I wore Monday through Friday:
Monday:
On Monday, I wore these Loft Plaid Ponte Leggings with an Aerie Sweater from last year. It had snowed overnight, so I just wanted to be cozy. Furthermore, I paired it with an older pair of brown boots, a coat from Old Navy, and my Pandora two-toned necklace. Here is a similar version of the boots and the coat, as they were purchased a number of years ago.
I decided to keep it neutral on Tuesday with a pair of plaid pants, a nude colored sweater, and boots. I wore the same coat, and my Madewell Transport Shoulder Bag has also made an appearance. I also wore these Dr. Scholl’s shoes, which were so comfortable. Please note that the sweater was purchased a number of years ago, but here’s a similar version. I also want to take a moment to talk about Dr. Scholl’s shoes. If you can find them at Kohl’s and stack coupons, they are amazing. They are so comfortable, and they go with everything.
Wednesday:
I purchased a few new pairs of pants from Loft on the weekend, and I couldn’t be more excited to wear these. I had on a black sweater from Aerie, a pair of black and gray Houndstooth leggings, and a pair of black boots from Dr. Scholl’s. I also switched my bag to a larger Madewell Transport Crossbody because I needed to carry more things. The Aerie sweater is no longer available, but please check out this similar style here.
Thursday:
On Thursday, I kept it simple with a pair of Spanx pants and a gray sweater. I also wore the same pair of black boots I wore on Wednesday as well.
Friday:
TGIF! On Friday, I actually had plans to go out after work, so I wore an Aerie sweater with a pair of black pants. After work, I changed into jeans for a fun night out.
TGIF everyone! It is the week before Christmas, and if you’re like me, you’re scrambling just a little bit. However, with the holidays coming up, I did still want to take the time to share some of my favorites, many of them purchased during Black Friday sales.
Madewell Transport Crossbody: I got the black/brown version of this bag, and I am obsessed with it. It is a crossbody that is in the same style of the brand’s signature Transport tote. I love this color, despite the fact that I am obsessed with Madewell’s brown bags, because it goes with pretty much everything. I also snagged the Transport Crossbody bag in Carmel for a steal on Poshmark, so I am sure I’ll be rotating between the two.
Harry and Meghan: I binge watched the first three episodes over the weekend, and I am sure that this weekend I will be doing the same. As someone who is obsessed with the Royals, I love watching it to get the tea on events that happened, but also to learn about Meghan and Harry as well. I highly recommend watching this in between Christmas movies.
Florence and the Machine: I have always loved her, but lately, I’ve been getting really into this band. I’ve listened to classics such as Dog Days Are Over, but also new songs such as Free. I definitely plan to continue listening to more and more of the band’s discography soon.
Pandora Two Toned Circle Pendant with Necklace: I am obsessed with this latest purchase from Pandora. I got it when the free bangle promo was going on, and I am so glad that I picked it up. I’ve been wearing this a ton with higher necked sweaters, however, I can see this piece being layered with some of my other necklaces as well. I also really love that it’s two toned, because I am obsessed with Pandora Rose.
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of jewelry. So, when I heard about a jewelry rental subscription service, I knew I had to check it out.
That subscription box is known as Rocksbox. For the price of $21, you get to choose three pieces of jewelry to rent. And, if you decide to purchase any and all of them, you can use that $21 as credit. Furthermore, if you buy all three pieces, you can get a discount as well.
I’ve had Rocksbox since May of this year, and I absolutely love it. How it works is that you select a bunch of items on a wishlist. Then, it curates three pieces of jewelry based on the pieces that you’ve selected in that wishlist. And, the beauty of this is that if there is something you are not interested in, you can swap them out. Some of the brands that Rocksbox has includes Kendra Scott, Kate Spade, and Luv AJ.
It takes a few days from selection for the pieces to arrive at your door. Each of the pieces are wrapped up nicely, and then you can wear them to your heart’s content. Once you’re ready to purchase them or ship them back, all you do is go back online, select what you want to purchase, and then go from there. If there are pieces that you don’t want to get, then all of you do is send it back to them in the mailer that it came in.
I really love this because I’ve been able to add so many fun pieces that I otherwise would never have done if I didn’t get my Rocksbox subscription. These pieces include fun fashion jewelry that is trendy or something that is just different than pieces that I would purchase for myself.
However, I also love it for fancy events as well. For example, I had to go to a wedding back in September and didn’t want to purchase a pair of earrings for me to only wear once. So, I took advantage of my Rocksbox subscription and got a pair of earrings perfect for the event. I can see myself getting some fun pieces for the holiday season, or seasonal pieces that I will only wear a few times and don’t want it to take up space in my jewelry box. That is the beauty of Rocksbox. You can literally just get pieces for that one event and send it back once it’s done. This not only saves space but also saves money so you can use that money to get pieces that you would wear on a daily basis.
That same mindset also applies to the trendy pieces that you want to try first before you invest. By renting them instead of buying you can try them out. If they don’t work out, then you can just send it back without having to either try to resell whatever online or by going through the hassle of a return. Rocksbox is a no risk way to try pieces that you were afraid to invest your hard earned money in.
Furthermore, what I also love about Rocksbox is the fact that whenever you do buy the pieces, you can get them at a discounted rate. Many times when I do buy pieces, I get credits, codes, so I get the pieces I want at a fraction of the price.
I personally think Rocksbox is a fun way to shake up your jewelry wardrobe, and recommend it to everyone who loves a piece of jewelry. Personally, I think it’s a good way to get the trendy pieces without paying the trendy prices. Here’s a referral link that you can use to get your first month free.
thenutmegmillennial.com 