TGIF everyone! I am so excited that it is Friday. I have an exciting new beginning that I am not comfortable with sharing on the blog, but am asking for the best vibes. I have so many different favorites to share — some random, others not so much. So, without further a due, here are this week’s favorites.
Angel Number Necklace: I have been seeing the times 11:11 or 1:11 a lot. So, my angel number is 111. According to iPublishing, the angel number 111 means new beginnings or a fresh start. I couldn’t think of anything better for me to use in this stage of my life. I have the silver version, but they also have other metal colors on their website.
Selenite Bowl: This has been on my wishlist for a while, and after looking for some of my crystal bracelets, I learned that some of them have broken during the move. So I got this to make sure that my bracelets (some of them purchased during my trip to San Diego) stay safe. Selenite is also known to cleanse them, which makes this a perfect way to store my jewelry.
Amazonite Bracelet: This bracelet has become one of my new favorites as well. I love the color, which is why I bought it. However, I also loved the meaning, which is to soothe tense situations, and to bring clarity.
Bubly Seltzer: I have been obsessed with drinking cherry seltzer from Bubly. I have the Soda Stream, but this is so much easier. I have not been drinking as much as I should. and this helps me stay hydrated.
Hamsa Necklace from the Ruby Tree: This is not online, but I purchased this necklace from the Ruby Tree during my trip to the sunflower farm last week, and I am obsessed. I have been layering it with my angel number piece, and I am loving the combo.
The Game Show Network: I have been binge watching America Says and Family Feud with my fiancé and his family, and it’s just really addicting. That’s all.
We all know that I am a jewelry girl. For years, I’ve watched influencers such as Moriah Robinson purchase jewelry from Amazon. However, I was scarred for life from the early days of Amazon when many of the pieces weren’t as great of a quality as they are now. Recently, I started purchasing some pieces that I’ve become obsessed with, and I want to take time to share them with you all. As a side note, all of these pieces are hyperallergenic or sterling silver. I have sensitive skin, and these do not irritate my ears whatsoever.:
Huggie Hoop Earrings: I am obsessed with these earrings. They are so lightweight, but are a funky take of a classic jewelry staple. I love these in my first hole, with another hoop in my second. I’ve taken these on vacation, and they were perfect for night outfits. This was recommended by Moriah, and I can see why. These are such a great gift, and I definitely will be wearing these for years to come.
Pearl Necklace: This was a Prime Day early deal for me, and I am so obsessed. I also took this with me on vacation, and it is such a classic staple at an affordable price. I love this for layering, but you can wear this on its own as well. The regular price is still pretty good for the quality.
Opal Moon and Hamsa Necklaces: I used to have one many years ago but I felt that there was too many bad memories associated with it so I let it go. I love both of these because they are adjustable so I can wear them as short or as long as I want. For the price, the quality is amazing. I really love layering these two together, and I am so amazed for the quality.
Hamsa Bracelet: You can see the theme here — I love opal hamsas. I am obsessed with this bracelet. This has been a wishlist item for several years, and I am so glad I picked this up. I layered this with an evil eye bracelet, but I can see this working in several other bracelet stacks.
Evil Eye Bracelet: I bought both colors of this bracelet and I am obsessed with it. It’s really dainty, but it packs a punch. These are great to stack with, and I am such I’ll be wearing these through the fall season.
Double Hoop Earrings: Last but not least, I want to talk about these hoops because they are so cute. I do have double pierced ears, but these do not go anywhere near my second piercing. The earrings are also really lightweight, because I can’t do heavy earrings. I am sure I’ll be gifting these as well.
The novel Things We Never Got Over practically has taken over the internet. This novel is the first in the Knockmeout series, and tells the story of Naomi, a runaway bride who comes to the rescue of her twin sister, Tina, who is always in trouble. Naomi finds out that she has a niece that she was not aware of either. She meets bad-boy Knox, a bad-boy entrepreneur who owns several businesses in town. Knox is a pretty straightforward guy who stays away from drama like the plague. However, Naomi is causing him to rethink that. . .
I picked up this book solely because of all of the TikToks that I’ve watched on it. With the promise that the book was going to be addicting and something that lovers of Colleen Hoover would enjoy, I knew that I would enjoy this book as well.
Well, let’s just say I devoured this book in two days and could not put it down until it was complete. Of course, I was on vacation, so there’s that.
This book did in fact live up to the hype. I am going to be honest here — I went in with skeptics. In fact, for the first 100 pages, I was not sure if it was even worth the read. Let’s just be honest here — the book started out slow. However, after a while, the book began to pick it up to the point where I couldn’t put it down.
Now, this book was a long one. Over 500 pages in fact. However, like I said, once you get through that 100 pages, you’re going to be sucked right into it. That said, I wanted to add that so much happens in those pages. In fact, one may argue that there may be too much drama that happens. But, I am okay with that.
What we’re all here for is the romance. This is your standard enemies to lovers romance. Knox is annoyed by Naomi at the start of the novel. Not to give any spoilers here, but that ends by the conclusion of the novel. I loved watching this romance unfold. Naomi’s previous relationship was borderline abusive, and it was amazing to see how he defends her and changes her perspective of relationships. I also loved watching Naomi break down some of Knox’s walls in the effort to give him permission to love. The two suffer ups and downs, but it was amazing to read.
Furthermore, I really enjoyed reading the relationship between Naomi and her niece. At the beginning of the novel, the two are complete and total strangers due to the fact that Naomi doesn’t know that she exists. However, it was heart warming to see how the two misfits learn how to love each other.
So. Did it live up to the hype? Yes. Yes, it did. In fact, I give it five stars.
TGIF! As a disclaimer, this Friday Faves is all about books and coffee. Not all, but quite a few of them are books, because I can’t stop reading. That said, I have quite a few faves that I am loving right now, and can’t wait to share.
Bridgerton Series: Guys, I get the hype. This series has been sitting on my TBR for the last year or so, and I am so glad that I finally picked it up now. It’s about the Bridgerton siblings, which is based on the famous Netflix show. I just completed the Viscount Who Loved Me, and I was so obsessed. I have been taking a break after every one, but I know I am going to breeze through the series.
The Wish by Nicholas Sparks: I read this book in one day. Which is a danger when it comes to Nicholas Sparks novels. This tells the story of Maggie, who is a dying photographer. It follows her summer romance, and it’s addicting. This is the perfect beach read.
Lisa Gozlan Evil Eye Bracelet: I am obsessed with my latest bracelet find, which is this evil eye bracelet from Lisa Gonzlan. I love the evil eye, and I love how this bracelet layers with other pieces. I am also going to be grabbing her happy face bracelet at some point, which I think will pair well with this one.
Hyperchiller: I picked this up during Prime Day, and this was such an amazing Amazon find. Basically, you freeze it, and then put hot coffee into it. And, less than one minute from it, it turns it into iced coffee. I basically used K-Cup coffee, and it tasted so much better than Dunkin’. This makes a great gift as well.
Choices: To the Hills and Back by Audrina Patridge: I am obsessed with the TV show the Hills, so I naturally downloaded this as soon as I heard this existed. So far, I am really enjoying it. It is a quick read, and I am enjoying reading Audrina’s insight on what happened during the show.
Cold Brew Maker: My brother gave me this for my birthday, and this was the best gift to receive. I love this because I can make cold brew that I can actually drink because I can flavor it with dairy free creamer. This is so easy to use, and this too, will make a great gift.
As many of you know, I work a full time position in addition to doing my blog. I have seen many YouTube videos, and I always wanted to do my own version of it. Then I saw this post by Candelles that went through one of my favorite content creators, Alexa LeConche and decided to do my own version of this for the blog. So, read on to learn about an average day in my life.
5:15 a.m. Wake up.
5:20 a.m. Work out. Usually, I do a mixture of HIIT/strength and some running.
6 a.m. Shower
6:20 a.m. Eat breakfast. Your girl is hungry after her workout.
6:30 a.m. Make coffee, and spend 20-30 minutes reading while sipping on my coffee. During this time, I will also check stats on a post that recently published (I usually create content over the weekend), and share links to my Twitter and Facebook pages.
7 a.m. Finish getting ready for the day.
8 a.m. Leave for work. On some days, I grab a coffee or a protein shake.
8:30 a.m. to noon: Work in my office position.
Noon to 1 p.m. Lunch break. What I do depends on the day. On some days, I go into the break room and just read my Nook, but on others, I will run errands.
1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Work in my office position.
4:30 p.m. Drive home.
5 p.m. The first thing I do when I get home is take care of my dog, and then we watch TV together. I usually try to rinse off any containers if I have any, open up any packages or mail that have come in for me, and then just decompress. I work with the public a lot, so I enjoy having some quiet time. While watching tv, this is usually when I try to post a photo on my Instagram relating to any post that went live.
6:30 p.m. My fiancé comes home and we either go in the pool or take Lucy for a walk. We then hang out by either watching TV or I read.
8 p.m. Around 8, we have dinner.
8:45 p.m. I usually eat dessert and then watch T.V. or scroll on TikTok.
9:30 (ish) p.m. I usually try to go to bed between 9:30 and 10, but it depends on the day.
When my grandfather passed away over ten years ago, his final words were “be happy.” At the time, it felt like he was giving his family permission to feel joy even though losing him would cause pain and sorrow. However, as I get older, the meaning has changed.
I am 28 — still young but an adult in every sense of the word. I work full time. I pay taxes. I contribute to my retirement. Sometimes, when I think of doing things that I enjoy — whether it may be a small thing such as going to get a Starbucks coffee, making a change such as moving or switching careers — something always stops me. Sometimes, it’s the fear of leaving that comfort zone. Other times, it’s the worry of what others may think or whether or not they would be disappointed in me. Or, in the case of the Starbucks coffee, it’s whether or not I’ll be late for work.
I am currently going through a period of life where I am going through a lot of changes. Honestly, these changes are causing me to feel discomfort and terrified. For the first time in my life, I am taking the wheel and listening to my heart to do what’s best for me. However, as I am going through this time of transition, I am realizing that those feelings are okay, as the end goal is for me to be a happier being.
I had this epiphany the other day when I was getting ready to drive home from work. For the first time in over ten years, I thought of my grandfather’s words. I then asked myself: Why do we let certain things get in the way of what could make us happy? And, most importantly, why does it even matter? If you’re the one who is the one who is directly affected by the action, why does it matter what someone else does?
When it comes down to it, the reality is life is too short. I believe that today is a gift and tomorrow is something that may or may not be a guarantee. So, why not take chances? Responsibly, anyways. I am not saying quit your job and hike in Europe if you have a family and mouths to feed. Please don’t do that.
I think sometimes we can fall into the path of what is comfortable to the point where I am blind to realize that something isn’t working for me anymore. I know I am guilty of this. This can be for a number of reasons — money, judgement, and other strings that tie is to the thing. Comfort is definitely great and something that we all crave. However, I think that the most important thing in life is happiness. For example, when I finally decided to sell my home to tackle on a new adventure, I held back. For two years. Now that I finally did the thing, I feel like I am ready to take on the world.
The moral of the story here? Screw the comfort zones, and choose happiness.
Happy Friday everyone! I have not done a Friday Faves in a few weeks, and I am doing my best to get back into blogging as much as I possibly can. That said, I wanted to share some of my favorites as of late, and kick off the weekend.
Mejuri Editor Hoops: Last but not least, I want to talk about my latest Mejuri purchase, which are the editor hoops in silver. They are so comfortable and perfect for everyday wear since they are so lightweight. However, that does not mean that they are dainty. They are the goldilocks pair — not too big and not too small. Just right.
Whitney Port Reaction Videos: Did you know that Whitney Port has a YouTube channel? I know. I didn’t either. I am a huge fan of the Hills, and I discovered her watching the videos and reacting. There are over a 100 videos, so I am slowly making my way through them.
Back to the Beach Podcast: This Friday Faves is the Hills themed. Yeah, not really. However, Kristin Cavalleri and Stephen Coletti have reunited for a podcast. And, it’s so good. Similar to the Whitney Port videos, this podcast has both Kristen and Stephen rewatching the series and commenting on it. I already can’t wait for the next episode.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune: I fell in love with this book and managed to finish it in less than 24 hours. It tells the story of Percy and Sam, who meet at her parents’ summer home when they were teens. The two have a crush, but remain best friends. However, you can tell that there was something more. One mistake quickly unravels it. This book was amazing, and is perfect for lovers of Colleen Hoover and Christina Lauren. The romance was amazing, and I just could not put it down.
James Avery Claddagh Ring: This ring is probably one of the most meaningful pieces of jewelry that I will ever wear — next to my engagement ring. It was a birthday gift from my fiancée and has the date of our dating anniversary engraved on it. I love this because we soon will not be celebrating the dating anniversary, but I also love Irish Claddagh rings as well.
The pandemic has changed the way a lot of things are looked at — including weddings. With the price of weddings growing increasingly expensive, the option to elope becomes the most budget friendly. Emma Thurgood, owner of Emma Thurgood Weddings, challenges the idea of elopements and micro weddings to personalize it to the couple themselves. I met Emma when I was beginning to plan my own wedding, and I knew I wanted to bring her to the Nutmeg Millennial. So, read on to learn all about the many hats Emma wears.
1. Tell Me about yourself. What made you want to be a photographer?
I have been an artist since a time before I can remember, so I always knew that visual art was going to be my profession. I achieved my BFA in painting and my MFA in studio art before becoming a curator for arts non-profit organizations. It was while I was in grad school that I got into photography, though it wasn’t my main artistic medium. I continued it for years as a hobby and photographed a few weddings for friends and worked a bit for a friend of mine who was a wedding photographer. When I was ready to leave gallery life, becoming a professional photographer was the natural choice.
2. Tell me about Emma Thurgood Weddings? What exactly is your role, and what services do you provide?
I’m an elopement and intimate wedding photographer + planner. I primarily work with clients who want to have a wedding day with less than 20 people, though I will take on weddings with guest counts up to 100 people. My main service is as a documentary photographer, but I also provide a lot of hands-on assistance in the planning process. Each one of my clients get access to my vendor guide, full of recommendations of top notch vendors for the day. I’m always available to provide insight and answer questions for my couples when they want my opinion on something they’re considering for the day. All of my clients get detailed timelines and, where necessary, portrait lists created for their day so that I can be super organized and efficient on the day. For elopement clients, I provide customized and detailed location lists, timeline options and activities ideas.
3. What, in your opinion, makes micro weddings and elopements so special?
Hands down, it’s the intimacy, experience and personalization that these kinds of weddings offer. When you have a smaller guest count, your options of what you can do for the day just open up. As you add more people the locations, activities, and budget options all become more limited and more homogenous. Smaller weddings allow couples to really experience their day instead of being rushed through it. The average reception is 5 hours long. If you have 150 guests that’s only two minutes to talk with each guest and that doesn’t even account for time to eat, formalities, or to hit the dance floor. Smaller weddings also allow couples to spend their budget on things that they value instead of on the venue, food and drinks for 100+ people. The average wedding in New England is about $40,000. You can spend $20,000 on venue, food and drinks for 100 people and still not be done spending… or you could spend $15,000 on an epic adventure getaway with 20 people and still be spending less than a large wedding after all your other wedding expenses.
4. How long does it take to plan a micro wedding or an elopement?
A very simple wedding can be planned in less than a month. You can even plan an epic adventure elopement for just the two of you and a few guests in three months. A micro-wedding with more than 10 guests is a tall order for anything less than 6 months. Some couples who really want a luxury experience start planning a year out in order to budget for all the things that they want.
5. Where do you draw inspiration for the weddings for your clientele?
I love being in nature, and my clients do, too! So together my clients and I talk about why they love being in nature, what their favorite kinds of outdoor activities and adventures are and we start brainstorming from there. For me, it’s really important that I’m facilitating the vision of my clients, not imposing my own vision onto them. I try really hard not to photograph the same wedding twice, and following my clients lead helps prevent that.
6. What is YOUR dream wedding, if you have one?
I would love to be part of a backpacking elopement weekend. Hiking up to a location, having the ceremony with fabulous views at sunset, camping under the stars and then hiking back down and perhaps celebrating with family during the afternoon of the second day.
7. What is your advice for those who are considering an elopement or micro wedding, but are nervous based on reception?
Life is too short to plan the wedding of someone else’s dreams. You should feel completely comfortable and true to yourself on your wedding day. You are under no obligation to invite anyone (not even your mom) and anyone who makes you feel bad about that is having an issue with their own insecurities. I’ve talked to too many people who have wedding regrets from listening to other people’s ideas of what to do for a wedding. Don’t let yourself feel that way about yours.
A lot of people decide that they want to go with a micro-wedding or elopement to save money. However, I think a lot of people’s expectations are misled or uninformed. Yes, an elopement or micro-wedding can cost less than the average 100 guest wedding. However, you will be hard pressed to be able to spend less than $10,000 on a bespoke experience that isn’t just heading to your local park. There’s your attire, lodging, photographer, flowers and decor, dining expenses, etc. A lot of the expenses you have for an elopement or micro-wedding are the same amount as if you hired them for a 100+ person wedding because they are not based on the guest count. Elopement photographers in particular tend to be more expensive because we are more involved in the planning process than when you have a venue that comes with a coordinator to lean on. I have a whole blog post about elopement budgets with real breakdowns, which is where you can really see the way that an elopement can vary wildly in how much of the budget gets spent where even when the total costs are about the same.
TGIF everyone! Today is especially special because I am starting my vacation, which is super exciting. I am really looking forward to some time off. In the mean time though, here are this week’s favorites:
T Jazelle Zodiac Bracelet: I am a Cancer, so I am so excited that T Jazelle finally released this in my sign. I have been waiting for this for over six months to release and I am so happy that it is finally here. Many of my bracelets are silver, but I find that it blends in with my other stacks from T Jazelle.
She Gets The Girl by Rachel Lippencott and Alyson Derrick: I am a huge fan of Rachel Lippencott, and I am enjoying this book so much. It is told in dual perspectives. Alex is the girl who can’t say the words I Love you, while Molly is so shy that she can’t talk to her crush. It’s such a cute read, and I am loving it.
Mejuri Balance Coin Necklace: I need more balance in my life. I love this necklace to layer, because it’s longer than some of my other pieces. Furthermore, I love the little reminder of the importance of balance.
Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score: I am finally picking up a BookTok recommendation. I haven’t gotten too far into the story, but I started it yesterday and I am engrossed into the story. If you like Colleen Hoover, I will say to definitely check it out.
From live music to events, Aquila’s Nest Vineyard in Newtown, Conn. offers an experience that is more than just unwinding with a glass of wine. With a vibe that is relaxed, Aquila’s Nest is the best place to do just that. Located just off of Route 34, the vineyard offers a gorgeous view to enjoy with that glass of wine.
First, let’s talk about the wine. While the vibe is relaxing, the wine is definitely worth the trip. Their wine list offers the usuals — red, white, and rose (you can view the complete wine list here). However, they also offer some great seasonal picks as well. For example, when I visited this past weekend, they had red, white and blue wine slushies. And, they were perfect for the hot temperatures.
Now, let’s talk about their event calendar, because it is jam packed. They have live music and food trucks on a regular basis. But, there is so much more. Some of the upcoming events that are listed include: yoga, karaoke, and paint and sip. Be sure to check their Facebook for the events. And, of course, you can host a private event there as well.
With all that it has to offer, I think Aquila’s Nest is great for a girl’s night, or even just a fun and relaxed night out with your significant other (if they like wine that is). I definitely recommend taking the trip if you’re looking for something to do all while taking advantage of the Connecticut summer weather.
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