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Eating My Way Around CT: Frosty Twist in Milford Offers a Sweet Treat for Your Valentine

While ice cream season is still a few months away, for some the love for iced sweet treats is year round. If your Valentine prefers sweet treats, I would highly recommend checking out downtown Milford’s Frosty Twist.

Frosty Twist offers hard ice cream, and frozen yogurt. But, their menu options go much further than that. They offer smoothies, crepes, sandwiches, milk shakes, smoothies and so much more. You can view their selection here. As for dairy free options, there are quite a few. They offer dairy free frozen yogurt, and what’s good about them is that they rotate the flavors. That’s right — no same flavors here every single time that you do.

They have a serve yourself fro yo style for those who want to create their own treat of choice. They offer about ten different flavors of fro yo, and a ton of toppings from sweet to savory. They also have a wide selection of hard ice cream, so it’s perfect for anyone in your group. Or, if you just want to go to treat yourself, no one’s judging here.

However, if you’re looking for something for a meal, they have you covered as well. They serve breakfast and lunch options as well. As mentioned earlier, they offer sandwiches, crepes (the Nutella one is out of this world), bagels, and waffles.

For me, Frosty Twist is one of the best places my fiancé has taken me. I like it that we can get treats tailored to our specific needs or to get whatever we are craving. It is also a great spot since I am dairy free, and they do have quite a few options so I can get a sweet treat. I also like it that it has something for everyone. Therefore, this is a great place to take your valentine — on any day not just Valentine’s Day.

For more information, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram.

Friday Faves: February 11, 2022

TGIF everyone! I have today off, and I am looking forward to just relaxing and getting some things done around the house. I have a few fun new favorites to share with you, some of them are a bit on the pricey side, but all of them are fun. So, without further adue, please feel free to read for this week’s favorites.

David Yurman Small Cable Earrings: These earrings are pricy. I will be honest. However, I am so glad that I got them. Full disclosure here: I did not pay full price for them. I have been stashing my Nordstrom notes, and got about 33 percent off on them. I love them because they are classic and they are lightweight. I have worn them three times this past week, and these are definitely worth the money should you wish to get them since they are a classic piece of jewelry that will last for years. Furthermore, I would also check out preloved sites such as Poshmark and Fashionphile for them as well.

Stitch Counter: If you knit or crochet, I highly recommend you getting this. It helps you keep track of your stitches and rows, which is great for someone who is not good at math. Like myself. It makes making things like hats so much easier.

Quest Protein Chips in Loaded Taco: Your girl needs to eat more protein. I love the ranch flavor, but I really fell in love with these. They are delicious and have 19 grams of protein. Win, win.

Romance Novels: I credit Valentine’s Day for this one, but I’ve been obsessed with romance novels. This week, I binge read the Heart Principal by Helen Hoang and the Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. I am currently reading Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert, and I am enjoying it so far. Both books were amazing and on my unread shelf for a while so I’m glad to have gotten to those.

Ulta Juicy Lip Oil: I was watching beauty YouTube, and I really wanted to use the Dior Lip Oil that broke TikTok. The problem was that it’s out of stock. I heard that this is a great dupe, and for $9, I gave it a go. I am so happy that I did. There is no tint, and it’s really good so far. And, it smells amazing, which is a win.

Milford’s Scorp Zone Offers Quality Pieces That Promote Healing at a Great Price

For the past few years, I’ve been dabbling into the healing powers of crystals thanks to my fiancé’s mother. Over the weekend, she asked us to take her to Scorp Zone, whose retail location is at 33 Eastern Steel Road, in Milford. Now, I was skeptical until I walked through the doors of the shop. I had been to a crystal shop a few years back, and I really didn’t like how I felt after leaving.

However, I was wrong.

Scorp Zone offers an environment that has the purpose of support and healing in mind no matter what the buyer is going through. When you walk through the doors, you are greeted with some costume jewelry, and a few other small items.

The jewelry section in the front of the shop

Then, as you go into the crystal room, you are greeted by every kind of stone that you can think of — from amethyst to opalite, and everything in between. Oh, and all of the colors of quartz that you can possibly think of. Crystals come in every size, from tiny ones that can be fit in pockets to larger sizes for display. Additionally, the shop offers a wide variety of jewelry, clothing, healing spray, selenite bowls, and kits that have every intention that can assist with any kind of struggle.

Some of the meanings of crystals in the shop.

What is really cool about this shop is there is a list of the healing properties of every crystal. I like this because it helps you find the exact crystal you need for what you are going through. However, if you do happen to have a question on something, the staff is all too eager to help with any question you may have. While this is my first time at the store, this wasn’t my future mother in law’s. When she was there the first time, she said that the owner let her customize her selenite bowls.

This leads me to my next point. We had a chance to talk to the woman the shop, and she was one of the most passionate people I’ve met about her work. In fact, she said something along of the lines of “I feel like I don’t go to work everyday.” When someone has that much passion, you can feel both the love and the quality of every piece.

Finally, I do want to touch upon how affordable everything in the shop is. I’ve purchased a few different crystal bracelets and crystals, but these prices are some of the best I’ve seen for good quality ones. I think that is amazing, because it makes it more attainable for someone to develop their own crystal collection.

And, if you can not make it to their Milford location, don’t worry. You can purchase items directly from their website. And, shipping’s free. Be sure to also check them out on Instagram and Facebook.

Friday Faves: February 4, 2022

TGIF! This week has been such a long and stressful week, and I am so happy to finally make it to Friday. This week, I have a ton of favorites to share with you, so let’s get started.

How I Met Your Father: I finally started watching the How I Met Your Mother spinoff (which I really need to get to the original tbh), and I am obsessed. The cast is really good, and it’s actually more of a modern take of the show with the roles reversed. It is so cool. I highly recommend checking it out on Hulu.

The Back Mini Tote Bag by Marc Jacobs: The last thing I needed was another purse. However, this came back in stock on Nordstrom and I am so glad that I snatched this up. This purse is worth all of the hype (review to come). I love that this bag because it fits everything and manages to go with many outfits. It is also a tote bag that is a crossbody, which for me is the best of both worlds. It is just a great everyday bag, and I highly recommend getting it.

Welcome to Our Show: A New Girl spinoff podcast? How amazing! I loved New Girl, and I am so happy that there is a podcast that stars Zooey Deschanel, Hannah Simone, and Lamorne Morris, aka Jess, CeeCee, and Winston. The trio discuss every episode and it is so interesting to listen to all of the behind the scenes information of the show.

Beartown by Frederick Bachman: I have been influenced by Regan of Peruse Project to read this book, and I am so happy that I have been reading it. Beartown is a town that has everything going wrong for it. That is, except it’s hockey ream. Something happens that turns the town upside down. I highly recommend reading it if you haven’t already.

Parke Avenue Youtube: I found a new YouTuber that I am borderline obsessed with. Her name is Ashley Park, and she is so good to watch. I love her content because she focuses on curating on a quality wardrobe with a mix of expensive and inexpensive pieces. I also just love her style, because she gives so much inspiration. And, she’s mid size, which I really love.

February 2022 Bullet Journal Set Up

Ribbit ribbit! Welcome February and it’s time to show off my bullet journal pages for the month.

I am going to be honest. I am not artistic whatsoever, so these are pretty simple. I used stencils to make these designs. The theme here is basically using the red and pink colors, which are Valentine’s Day appropriate.

Before I show off my pages, let’s just take a moment to reflect on my past month of bullet journaling. I don’t bullet journal daily, but rather weekly. I noticed that it’s something that has been helping me with my spending and by creating a wishlist, it’s been helpful keeping track of items so I don’t impulse buy. I also love keeping track of the books I read.

I made a few changes since last month’s spreads (you can view those here), and I think I’ll be making more as I get more and more into it.

So here are my February Bullet Journal pages:

Shopping My Way Around CT: Rumanoffs in Hamden

Some of the bracelets I purchased from Rumanoffs!

It is no secret that I love jewelry. I love costume jewelry and I love fine jewelry pieces. However, there are so many jewelry stores around that finding one that you trust and you love is often a challenge.

One of my go-tos for this is Rumanoff’s Fine Jewelry in Hamden. Rumanoff’s is my favorite place to go to for all of my jewelry needs. They have a huge variety of jewelry brands — from affordable brands such as Pandora and T Jazelle, to finer brands that are on the more expensive side. Furthermore, the store has a great selection for bridal as well.

What I like about the store the most is the staff. I come into the store just to look around every now and then, and every person who has helped me has been so helpful — no matter the amount that I spend. Last year for Valentine’s Day, they helped me order a medal for my fiancé, and they did it in the matter of days to make sure that I got the right one. And, they are always so patient whenever I have any questions when there are promos for Pandora.

Furthermore, they are great also for custom pieces. I found a brooch in my mom’s things, and I took it to Rumanoff’s last weekend to turn it into a pendant. I worked with Jennifer, and she really took her time to make sure I got a design that I loved. At the time of publishing this post, I currently don’t have it, but I will share it once I do. You can also take a look at their work on Leslie’s Instagram. All of it is truly gorgeous.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a gift for your Valentine, I highly recommend checking them out.

Eating My Way Around CT: Bobette’s In Milford Is The Lunch Spot You Need to Frequent

Soups, sandwiches, and salads are classic lunch staples. And, those are something that Bobette’s Restaurant in Milford has gotten down to a T. Located on Gulf Street, the restaurant offers an eclectic mix of classic lunch favorites and new items that make it a perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat during your lunch break.

Bobette’s has two menus — their daily menu which consists of their daily specials and their everyday menu, which offers breakfast, sandwiches, soups, and salads. Furthermore, they also offer desserts and combos consisting of a soup and salad and a sandwich and soup as well (sort of like Panera’s you pick two) — a great option for those who can’t make decisions. All of their food is delicious and fresh.

While their menu items are extensive, their prices are reasonable. Many of their sandwiches are less than $10, and you can get 12 ounces of soup for $5.50, which would last for a few meals.

Now let’s get to the good part. Bobette’s has been a great lunch option on those bone chilling days — like January in Connecticut — when all you need is a good cup of soup and comfort. I am a huge fan of their soup, and have even gotten a large container of it to last a few days. If you try anything from Bobette’s, you simply must give their soup a try.

However, what is soup without a sandwich. I also pair a cup of their soup with one of their sandwiches. I’ve tried their special dirty chicken ceaser, honey mustard chicken, and it paired wonderfully together.

Overall, Bobette’s is a delicious lunch spot to check out on the days you’re in the Milford area during your lunch hour. And, if you just want to grab it to go, you can take advantage of their online ordering feature — perfect for someone on the go in between Zoom meetings.

Friday Faves: January 28, 2022

TGIF everyone! It’s going to be a snowy weekend, and I am hoping that the snow totals won’t be too high. I am not a fan of the snow, but I am looking forward to a cozy day in. I am doing a major declutter so I hope to get a huge chunk of that done. I also am recovering from a minor knee injury, so I am hoping to be fully recovered by the end of the weekend.

That said, I do have some favorites to share, so continue reading for this week’s favorites!

Aerie Waffle Knit Sweater: Aerie has been my favorite place to get clothes as of late. And, this waffle sweater is so comfy and is great to pair with a pair of leggings. I currently have two colors — the gray and the oatmeal and they are such great basics. I purchased these over the holiday season and I am obsessed and I might want to get another color.

Love, Life and the List Series by Kasie West: I love Kasie West, and these books were on my shelf for a while. I have been in a mood where I have been craving romance. It consists of three books, Love Life and the List, Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss and the Moment of Truth. They are standalone young adult novels, with crossover characters, which is something that I really love. I highly recommend that you check these books out if you’re in the mood for a light read.

Single Drunk Female: I found another TV show that I am obsessed with — Single Drunk Female. It is on Freeform, but you can watch it on Fridays on Hulu. It is a comedy show, that talks about a young woman who struggles with addiction. It goes through her journey to sobriety. I have only watched one episode, but I am already enjoying it.

The Big Hit Show podcast: I was a twi-hard when I was younger, so this podcast is right up my alley. It is a docu-style podcast that discusses Twilight.

Pictured: the Everly ring, the rope bold ring and the Zeta ring all Ana Luisa

Ana Luisa Everly Ring: I talked about my love for Ana Luisa at length in this post. One of my recent additions is the Everly band ring. I love wearing it on my thumb. It goes with my other pieces that I have as well, and doesn’t turn my finger green as well.

Product Review: Is Ana Luisa Jewelry Worth It?

I want to preface this post by saying that I am not compensated by Ana Luisa whatsoever for this post. All of their products that I own have been purchased with my own money.

Hi We have seen the ads for Ana Luisa jewelry on influencers everywhere. They are on YouTube, and on Instagram. Their jewelry is on trend, and their brand is to accomplish complete carbon neutrality. If you browse their website, you can see that the pieces are cute and on trend. They have layerable chains, and of course my personal favorite, their bold rope ring that gives me all of the croissant vibes. Everything is hypoallergenic, which means if you have sensitive skin like yours truly, than you don’t have to worry about it turning your fingers green. Because you know that’s the worst.

That said, the price tag is pretty good for jewelry. Most pieces range from $39 – $115. Many of the pieces are gold plated over brass/sterling silver, but they are slowly expanding to more silver styles (which is good because your girl loves her silver pieces).

So, enough talk. Is Ana Luisa jewelry actually worth it?

I would say so.

Currently, my Ana Luisa collection consists of a few rings, two pairs of earrings, and a few necklaces. And, my collection is growing. I currently have a package from them on the way in which I took advantage of their buy one get one forty percent off sale.

As I mentioned earlier, I am mostly a silver gal. But, I can’t help but be drawn to their pieces to the point where I can not resist them. Currently, my favorite pieces are the joy necklace, the rope bold ring, the Everly band ring, and the zeta ring. I have them in my jewelry rotation, and I am so happy that I pulled the trigger on them. So far, the plating has been pretty good and the pieces mesh really well. One of the things I am highly allergic to is rings that are not sterling silver or real gold. However, these rings don’t turn my finger green, which is a blessing.

I also have a few pairs of their earrings, including the Paris twisted hoop earrings and the silver huggies. I love both pairs, and like the rings, they don’t bother my ears. I will admit that while the Paris earrings are beautiful, they are a little on the heavy side. All of the earrings do not bother my ears as well.

Overall, I am blown away with both the quality and the mission of Ana Luisa as a brand and as a product. It is hard these days to find quality jewelry pieces that not only will last but also will not break the bank. Ana Luisa’s pieces are pretty affordable as it is, but they do have sales throughout the year to make it even more affordable. And, by signing up for their Club Ana Luisa program, you can build up points for future purchases. I used my points to get a ring for only $6.

So, to answer the question, are they worth the hype? Absolutely one hundred percent.

My Engagement Story

Hey everyone! I am kicking off a new series on this blog — a wedding series that will go through the whole wedding planning process. Now, I don’t actually plan on getting married until fall 2023. But, I wanted to kick it off with telling you how the wedding planning journey began.

How it Happened:

My fiancé and I went to a tree lighting on Black Friday evening. Going to a tree lighting was something that we’ve always wanted to do during our relationship, so since we both didn’t have to work that night, we decided to go. As a side note, I love walking through Christmas lights. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and there is something that is so magical about walking through Christmas lights. At least for me.

It was freezing, so we were walking in and out of various stores to keep warm until the lights went on at 6:30. Finally, the countdown for the lights to go on was near, and warmth was on its way.

So I thought.

We took a few photos and began walking back to the car. He led me a different direction — a bridge right on the water. My fiancé said “now’s as good time as any,” and pulled out a pink box. Now, I wish someone had the foresight to videotape what he said, because I honestly can’t remember much other than he had tears in his eyes and the question “will you marry me?” Was asked. He did try to get down on one knee, but due to the cold temperature that was not an option.

At that moment, he took off my promise ring that I wore for the last year, and replaced it with my engagement ring, which is a morganite ring from SamNSue. By now, we both were crying, and even though I had a feeling it was going to happen, I was still shocked that I was someone’s fiancé.

We spent the weekend celebrating our engagement, and were so grateful for the support that we received from our family and friends. Because our engagement was so close to Christmas, we decided to hold off on even discussing the idea of any wedding planning to just soak in the high of being newly engaged. I am so happy we chose to do that and take our time with it, because it took us a long time to reach this point. And, now that we’re here, I want to enjoy it.

So, now what? Stay tuned for more wedding content over the next year or so!