When you think of Vincent Van Gogh, you think of painted sunflowers and starry night. Now, imagine if you can be immersed into his work.
Hartford’s Beyond Van Gogh does exactly that. Beyond Van Gogh is an immerse exhibit that travels around the world that allow spectators and art lovers a chance to appreciate Van Gogh’s work by simply going inside of his world.
And, it was announced that the exhibit in Hartford has been extended until October 23. According to the website, there are 300 of Van Gogh’s artworks displayed in a gorgeous 4K display. Tickets can be purchased online by going here. But with ticket prices starting at $40 per person, you want to ask yourself if it’s worth the price tag.
The short answer is yes. One hundred percent. Watching this display truly was breathtaking and it felt as though I was actually in one of Van Gogh’s pieces.
The exhibit is in two parts— the first is a history of Van Gogh’s life which tells so many interesting facts. The second is a presentation of his pieces, which bring them right to life. In the presentation, a beautiful orchestra plays in the background which makes this even more amazing.
Pretty cool right?
However, I don’t want to do all of the talking here. Here are some of my pictures that I’ve taken when I went a few weeks back.
Writer’s block always seems to come right as when Blogtober is in full swing. Blogtober, for those of you who don’t know or haven’t been following along, is basically writing a post everyday during the month of October. 31 posts in 31 days. So, it’s easy to get a case of writer’s block, especially when you’re used to writing posts 2 to 3 posts a week.
Have no fear. Here are 31 ideas to help you get through the month:
Fall Themed:
Fall Bucket List
Best books to read in the fall
Halloween costume ideas
Best pet/couples costumes
Fall recipe
Fall Playlist
Fall movie/tv shows
Halloween/fall craft
Fall decorating ideas
Halloween Costumes under x amount
Post about a local fall activity/festival
X things you must do in the fall
Fashion:
Fall outfit ideas
Review on accessory
How to style a piece
Fall Fashion Wishlist
A post compiling your outfits of the week.
Fall Fashion Essentials
Lifestyle/General:
Book Review
Album Review
List of your favorite podcasts/influencers/bloggers
Tips on How to Save Money
Opinion Post
Movie review
Wedding:
Tips for planning a fall wedding.
Things I Wish I Did or Did Not Do on My Wedding Day
The Elisa necklace from Kendra Scott is by far the most popular product the brand has. According to their TikTok, one necklace sells every minute. And, celebrities such as Lucy Hale are spotted wearing this piece. This necklace is a Kendra Scott staple.
But, is it worth it? Let’s discuss.
The Elisa necklace starts at $55 (but can go up depending on if you use the Color Bar or if you opt for Demi-fine pieces) and comes in silver, rose gold and gold. You can get it with a stone or without a stone. If you do get a stone, I’m sure that they will have your favorite color.
Citrine
As I mentioned earlier, the necklace comes in either demi-fine or regular. What that means is that there is a sterling silver version that is $140, with the gold vermeil being $170. There is a version without the stone as well.
I have the sterling silver plain one, as well as the abalone shell, pink, black, platinum druzy, iridescent druzy, citrine, turquoise and mint blue. And, I love them.
What I really love about these pieces is how simple they are, but they really pack a punch and add a little bit of fun to the outfit. That’s the thing about Kendra Scott pieces. They have fun jewelry pieces that are unique in any way.
Turquoise
Many of my pieces — with the exception of the blues — are neutral so they go with pretty much everything. What I love about the druzy ones is that they can add a little bit of sparkle to a plain outfit. And, while I do tend to wear them on their own, they can be layered with other pieces. They are adjustable, so you can fit it at just the right size for you.
While there are now options for sterling silver or gold plate, this piece started out as being a costume jewelry piece only. For me, that was a hard pill to swallow. I didn’t like that I was paying $55 for a piece of costume jewelry. However, after my first purchase, I realized that the quality of the piece was pretty decent. My tip here is to wait for a Kendra Scott sale, which happen often, and grab it then.
Of course, with costume jewelry, comes the tarnishing. So many reviews of this piece discuss this at length. This almost made me want to pass on the item. To date, I have not had that happen. I also do not shower with them on, and take them off prior to sleeping. When I’m not wearing them, I put them in their jewelry pouch for safe keeping.
That said, what I have heard is that Kendra Scott does in fact replace pieces that have tarnished from wear. You can review their policy here.
So, do I recommend this necklace?
Yes.
This is a great piece for anyone because it’s so easy to wear. You can get it in any metal or color that you want. In fact, you can get different stone colors so you can match it to any outfit. You can adjust it to any length too. It’s great to layer or wear on its own. You can wear it casually or dressed up.
The limit does not exist with this one.
But, I would suggest two things. One: wait for a sale or sign up for Kendra Scott’s birthday emails. Two: wear with caution. Take care of your piece and you’ll be good to go.
There is nothing like fall in Connecticut. The foliage, the flavors, and the activities are all apart of the fall in CT experience. And, what are the activities do you ask? Well, apple and pumpkin picking definitely tops that list. And, Southington’s Karabin Farms offers just that.
Located on Andrews Road, Karabin Farms is tucked away when you drive up to it. They are open year round, and offer everything from springtime flowers to Christmas trees. During the fall, you can pick apples, pumpkins and of course, walk into the store to pick up some delicious baked goodies and other farm fresh foods (I had an apple cider donut before I left the premises — trust me, it was delicious). And, their store is open daily from 9-5.
While you can pick your own apples, this store has a ton of apples ready for you to enjoy. Additionally, it is stocked with other farm fresh produce, dairy, meat, and vegetables. And of course, there were a ton of delicious treats. What sold me was the apple cider donuts, but they also have muffins, breads and cupcakes.
What I loved about this place was just how simple and casual that it was. And, the prices were not bad for homemade products. The apple cider donuts were six for $5.50. I’ve been to a ton of fall places over the years, and this one was just a place that you can stop on your way home. For me, once of the best things about it was that it was a little place to go and get your pumpkins. I recommend it for kids and adults as we head towards the spooky season as a fun place to just enjoy all of the traditions of fall that Connecticut has to offer.
If I am going to be honest with you, I was not planning on doing this year’s Blogtober. I did in 2020 and 2021. And, if I am going to be honest, I am going to credit it as being a huge reason why my blog had grown as much as it did. I met some really cool bloggers. I had a ton of web traffic, because I was producing a ton of content. And, it was a great way to truly see my creativity flourish. I tried out posts that I never would have normally, and I enjoyed it.
Honestly, it was exhausting.
If you’re not familiar with what Blogtober is, it is basically when you write 31 posts (one for each day of October). Many bloggers (well those who don’t procrastinate like yours truly) often preplan their posts so that by the time that October 1st rolls around, they are ready to go and just need to promote it.
But, for some odd reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to do Blogtober, even though I wanted to be able to. When July and August rolled around, I just couldn’t think of what to even write. And, I have been going through major writer’s block throughout the month of September. So, the thought of writing 31 posts in 31 days was absolutely overwhelming. And, this is without the fact that every post meant that I would be posting on my social media channels to draw traffic to it.
I love blogging, but after every Blogtober, I would honestly get burnt out. And, by the end of it, sometimes I would notice that the quality of my posts would go down so much, because I would be posting just for the sake of posting.
So, this year, I decided to do something a little different. Yes, I am still participating in Blogtober. But, instead of just writing on my blog, I will also be posting on my Instagram as well. This is just so I don’t get overwhelmed, but also to help grow my Instagram following as well. I hope to at least have 15-20 posts on this blog, but if I don’t, I will for sure by posting either a reel or a photo.
Maybe that is cheating. However, I also want to make sure that I am taking care of myself and making sure that blogging still remains fun. I also want to continue posting quality content without the pressure of just getting a blog post out.
So, welcome October, welcome to my own version of Blogtober. Please follow along on my Instagram @ thenutmegmillennial, and tag along here for some great posts.
Happy Friday and happy day prior to Blogtober. If you’re a blogger, than you know the stress is about to become real. I have a post explaining in detail all about the changes this Blogtober will be bringing. However, I did want to share some of my favorites of the week with you prior to the kickoff of Blogtober. So, here are this week’s favorites:
Old Navy Ultra High Rise Jeans: I got these when Old Navy ran their promotion for jeans that are $15. Let me tell you that these are the best jeans that I’ve owned as of late. They make my body feel so sculpted, and they are really comfortable to wear. I’ve worn them out, and it honestly felt as though these were leggings, not denim. Good job, Old Navy.
Tell Me Lies TV Show: I loved the book, so naturally I tuned into Hulu to watch the show. And, while it’s different than the book was, I really am enjoying it. I have two more episodes until I’m fully caught up, so that is something that I will be doing this weekend.
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Birkenstock Boston Clogs: I am a huge Birkenstock girl. Therefore, the fact that these shoes allow me to wear my favorite type of shoe throughout the year is why they are my new favorite.
Too Good to Be True by Carola Loverig: I was obsessed with Tell Me Lies, and I decided to pick up another book from the author. This time, it’s Too Good to be True. This tells the story of our main character who is diagnosed with OCD. She meets Burke, and the two are engaged in six months. Only, it is revealed that Burke has a hidden agenda. I am about 33 percent of the way through, and trust me, I’m sure that I will be devouring this one very quickly.
They are viral. They are sold out everywhere. They are the fall shoe to have. Influencers are spotted wearing them. What are they? The Birkenstock Boston Clog.
If you know me, you know that I wear the Birkenstock sandals to death during the spring, summer and fall time. And, with good reason. They have amazing support and I can wear them for hours without them bothering my feet. I also love that I can wear my sandals with dresses, leggings, jeans and even shorts. So, when I learned that there was a clog version, I could not run fast enough to purchase them. Thankfully, they had my size in the black and I snatched them up faster than you can say “add to cart.”
I got mine in my true size and they fit just like a charm. I’m not sure if I’ll be wearing socks with them yet, but I think I have the option.
Now, it is cold enough to actually wear them, and I couldn’t be more happier than I jumped on these.
So far, I’ve worn them a few different ways. The first is to work. I paired them with a pair of ponte pants and a long sweater and they were perfect.
I did wear them for play as well. I went to the Beyond Van Gogh experience this past weekend and wore them. They went extremely well with the outfit. I had on a long sleeved t shirt and some skinny jeans. And, they were really comfortable and I was able to walk around without my feet hurting.
Now, are they worth the hype?
I’d say yes! Like I said, I already love the brand as it is, so I came in a little biased. But, these shoes are a great investment piece because of the quality (I’ve worn mine to death and they still look great), the comfort and the fact that they go with any and everything. For me, having a pair of qualify shoes that you can count on for years is definitely worth the price tag.
That said, these shoes are really hard to come by, because they are sold out everywhere. So, I do recommend checking out places like Nordstrom, HSN, and LL Bean. You can also sign up for in stock emails for when they came in. I know I already have to grab the other color. I did find a pair of mens that were in the same size as the women’s, so we’ll see how that goes.
TGIF! It has been a while since I last posted on here, and I am so sorry for the unexpected break. I have been experiencing a serious case of writer’s block, and so I am hoping that by writing this post, it will help me create more posts.
This week’s favorites are a mixture of TV shows, books, and some fashion items. Yes, they are random. However, I am really happy nonetheless to share them with you all. So, without further a due, here are this week’s favorites:
The Crown: With the death of Queen Elizabeth, I decided to watch the Crown on Netflix as well to learn more about her life. I started this series a while back, so I’m really happy to pick it back up and rewatch it.
Kendra Scott Elisa Necklace: This necklace is something that I have been obsessed with as of late. I got a few colors of this piece, but my ultimate favorite is the black because I wear a lot of black in my wardrobe. What I love about this is that it goes with everything. Of course, you can get it in a ton of colors in any metal you want. However, I prefer the silver. If you’re considering this piece, I highly recommend it!
Web of Make Believe: I am a huge fan of shows like Catfish, and I recently discovered this show. It is a documentary series on Netflix that talks about life online and its deception. What is really awesome about this show is that every story is different. I have been slowly going through the series, and I’m really enjoying it thus far.
Tell Me Lies by Carola Loverig: I read this book, and I was obsessed to the point where I could not put it down. The book tells the story of a relationship in their mid twenties. It is a romance that is told like a thriller. Honestly, it keeps you on your toes, and trust me, you won’t want to put it down.
Back when I worked in the Town Clerk’s office, there was a couple that came in to apply for their marriage license. This was a normal occurrence — especially in the spring and summer time when wedding season is hot and heavy in Connecticut. What made this couple so unique was the bride. She was so excited to be marrying her groom, and her happiness radiated as we processed their paperwork. When they left, my co worker said “I hope my son finds someone that is that excited to marry him.”
I was reminded of that when I picked up the book, Heartbeats by Sarah Cantafio. Cantafio is a Connecticut based author and met her love while attending college. Heartbeats is a 60 page poetry book, and each and every page is filled with love. The poems tell the story about her relationship with her fiancé — from their first meeting to the proposal. She describes moments, and even shares some of their challenges that of course is no match to the strength of love. It also discusses feelings of insecurity and feeling good enough to be with someone, especially after having a tough time finding a partner that is good for them.
As I said, Heartbeats is basically a book about finding love and young love. The poetry is very clean (nothing x rated here), but it’s neither cliche or cheesy. The poetry is authentic and emotional. It gives you the warm and fuzzies on the inside while you’re reading it.
Personally, I related to these poems because I had my share of tricky romantic relationships in the past prior to my current one. To this day, I still feel imposter syndrome when it comes to whether or not I am worthy of a good guy who brings unconditional love. Cantafio touches upon that and relays the following point — love is the answer to that question and love melts away those insecurities.
Now, Heartbeats is Cantafio’s debut release. It was originally print only, but the author recently made it available on Kindle as well. That said, I’m anxious to read Cantafio’s next book (maybe about her and her love’s next chapter?).
Overall, I really enjoyed this quick and beautiful read. And, I honestly recommend it. I recommend it to those who are in committed relationships. I recommend it to those who are in the first stages of a new one. And, finally, I recommend it to those who are struggling to find their person.
I gave this read a solid five stars. Heartbeats is available on Amazon in both Kindle and Paperback formats.
Author’s Note: I purchased this with my own money, and all opinions are my own. I was also not compensated for my review.
Maxine does it all. She is a teacher by day and comes home to create amazing content. Whether it’s a review on her Bookstagram, @ captivatedbythecover , an episode on her new podcast, Something Simple, or a vlog, she’s definitely one of the most reliable influencers I know and watch. Maxine was so kind to take some time out to chat about her projects, and about teaching. So, without further adue, let’s let the woman herself speak.
So, how did you get started with creating content for your YouTube/Instagram/Podcast?
– I’ve always loved Youtube. It started with the stupid “creepy pencil” and “Charlie the Unicorn” videos, but the love remained. About 14 years ago, I shifted to watching covers of songs and started posting my own originals and covers on there. About 5 years ago, I started watching vlogs and other content, and wanted to do the same! It always brought laughs when my friends and I would watch them together. Bookstagram started a couple years ago for me. I had no idea this community existed, and not all my friends are big readers, so I knew my following on my regular instagram couldn’t care less about the books I was reading. The podcast came from my friend who suggested I try it! She knows I have a lot to say for a quiet person!
How long have you been creating content?
– For youtube, I started creating content maybe 13 years ago? But the vlogs have been more recent – about 4 years ago!
What is your favorite type of content to create?
– I love creating vlogs and watching the outcome after edits (don’t love the editing process as much – I don’t own a Mac, so it’s tedious to work with iMovie on my phone.) My favorite vlogs are the ones I make with my friends! I’m not a super aesthetic person, but I enjoy creating bright pictures that fit with my bookstagram. It’s also fun to write book reviews. Surprisingly, my longest book review was on a book I didn’t particularly enjoy. Does that say something about me? …
What influencers do you like to watch?
– Nicole Laeno is one of my most recently discovered influencers. She’s literally a junior in high school, but her editing and overall presence is awesome and positive. I’d rather have my 7th grade students watch her than fake tiktok wannabes! Steph Pappas is forever one of my favorites. She’s relaxing to watch after a long day. And of course, the iconic Emma Chamberlain because… duh.
Photo Credit: Captivated by the Cover
You have a Bookstagram, Captivated by the Cover. What are you reading right now?
– I’m reading Malibu Rising right now as a summer sayonara!
If someone were to ask you for a book recommendation, what would it be? Why?
– It depends what they’re into, but I will usually recommend Perks of Being a Wallflower because the characters will feel like your friends and you, no matter who you are, at some point felt like Charlie. Plus, the movie is just as good. Or, Big Little Lies because it’s a mystery (if you’re in a reading slump, mysteries solve all — literally) and got me out of a pretty big reading slump, orGood Girl’s Guide to Murder for the same reason. I guess I’m not great with “just one”!
You’ve been on YouTube and had a Bookstagram for a while. What made you decide to do a podcast?
– My friend told me I should start one! I didn’t think anyone would listen, but it’s a nice space to share my thoughts (I have quite a lot.) But, I wanted Something Simple to be something people can just hang out and listen to anywhere/any time. It’s very laid back! I’m also big on journaling (like, used to use my facebook status space as a place to journal), so this is one better! Verbally saying my thoughts/venting is therapeutic, too.
Where can people listen to your podcast?
– My podcast can be listened to on Anchor.fm or Spotify! I’ll work to get it on Apple soon, too.
What will be your posting schedule now that school is back in session?
– Great question! I want to keep it as something that feels like a hobby rather than work, so keeping the idea as something “laid back” I’ll try to get to it ideally at least once a week, but that is easier said than done. If people are interested, they can choose to be notified, and hopefully whatever I choose to talk about that week is good for them!
What is something that you wish to tell teachers (or anyone) who is interested in vlogging or doing any kind of podcast?
– Do it because you love it. If you do it for any other reason, there will be an unnecessary pressure to reach a certain following or number of subscribers, or whatever. Do it because you LOVE IT. My dad used to videotape us when we were younger, and we have all of those memories to look back on. He did that for us… because he enjoyed doing it, and that’s the kind of attitude I’m going to keep, too! It can be easy to forget why you truly started when all the other materialistic stuff gets in the way. There will also be people who don’t understand. They don’t have to understand if it brings you joy!
Where can people find you? Please plug away any and all social media accounts!
– yay, friends!! @Captiviatedbythecover is my bookstagram. Something Simple is my podcast. And, Maxine Elyse is my Youtube.
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