Happy Friday everyone! I am so excited for the weekend. This weekend is jam packed. We are working on a redecorating project, and we have a social event during every night of the weekend. This is such a refreshing change, ngl.
That said, I wanted to stop and share some of this week’s favorites. They are all over the place to be honest. However, I am so excited to talk to you about it, so without further adue, here are this week’s favorites:
Jillian Michaels App: I have mixed feelings about Jillian Michaels. I have previously had done her Beginner and 30-Day Shreds, and while I enjoyed them, I had a hard time keeping up. I also didn’t appreciate that I had to do the exercises 7 days a week, which resulted in a backache. That said, I have been trying to lose weight for medical reasons, so I wanted to give it a try. So far, I have been loving her programs, and I have even tried a recipe from the app that tasted great. And for the results? I have lost about 2 pounds since starting the program last week, and it’s definitely been motivating me to keep going.
Stoney Clover Fanny Pack: Let me just say this. If you’re a big busted gal, getting a belt bag is literally the hardest thing ever. After reading a post from Alexa of She’s Glitter and Gold, I decided to try the Stoney Clover one. And, let me tell you, this bag is amazing and extremely functional. Fanny packs get such a bad rep, and I don’t understand why since it’s so functional. I plan to take it hiking in the fall, but I manage to use it every single time I take Lucy on a walk. Is it pricey? Yes. But, I can tell that the quality is outstanding, and will last for a while.
Cassi’s Castle: I have been getting more and more into Disney lately, and have been watching a lot of Disney Youtubers. I have been binge watching Cassie’s Castle for her hauls, and her Disney vlogs. While I may not have as an extensive Disney collection as her, it’s still so fun to watch her and wish I was at Disney.
The Return by Nicholas Sparks: I read 65 percent of this book on the train, and I had to go home and finish it. It tells the story of our main character Trevor, who tries to pick up the pieces after his grandfather’s death. He meets local cop, Natalie, and the two fell in love. However, they could not be together. This was such a good read. While it started out slow, I quickly found myself engrossed in it. I am a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks, and I was so happy to finally read his latest release.
Art is one of my favorite forms of therapy, hence why many of us still revert to adult coloring books, or have hobbies such as knitting or crocheting. However, one of my favorite things to do in the form of therapy is take a trip to the Clay Date, located in New Haven.
Located on Route 63 on the Woodbridge/New Haven line, The Clay Date is your one stop shop for anything art related. They have a huge variety of activity – painting ceramics, mosaics, t-shirt making, and making candles.
I have been making ceramics here for years. What I love about making ceramics is that they have so many different choices, including the basics (bowls, mugs, plates, etc.), or seasonal items such as pumpkin mugs, or anything holiday related. They even have the classic ceramic Christmas trees during the holiday season. This is such a great place to make gifts, and other seasonal items. And, the best part? It’s unique to you.
Here’s the process of making ceramics. First, you pick up the item that you wish to make. Then, you are seated at a table with a bowl or water and color swatches. And, then you start painting your piece. Painting the piece is my favorite – and the most relaxing – part of the process because it is just so soothing. They recommend putting three coats of each color, and putting the darker color on last.
The Clay Date is my favorite place to go to for a number of reasons. I love going there on a night that I just need some “me time.” However, I also love going whenever I want to do something with a bunch of friends as well, because it’s something that is inexpensive and different than just going out to dinner.
Now, let’s talk about the prices. Honestly, it depends on what kind of project that you want to do, as projects can range from $12 – $50. I think that it is a great thing do, as going out can be easily rack up, and it doubles as something that is relaxing as well.
Overall, the Clay Date is a great place for friends to meet. But, it’s not just a thing to do on a Friday night. It’s a great place to use as an creative outlet. It’s a great way for families to spend time together. Art is something that doesn’t have to stop when you reach a certain age, and I definitely think that the Clay Date to just be creative.
TGIF everyone! I am so excited that the weekend is finally here, and it’s a three-day holiday weekend. I am not sure what plans await me this weekend, but I am definitely excited for some r and r.
That said, I have quite a few different favorites in different categories – from shows to products. So, without further adue, here are this week’s favorites:
Alex and Ani: I have been wearing a lot of Alex and Ani bracelets lately. Some of them were Poshmark finds. Others were ones that I have had since I was a freshman/sophomore in college, when Alex and Ani was really popular (many were gifts from my mom and my boyfriend). I have been loving the Disney ones, and I love being able to stack them or wear them on their own.
Discovery Plus: I got rid of the cable box, but have been missing TLC reality shows. So, I caved and signed up for Discovery Plus. I do not have any regrets. I have been binge watching a few of my favorite shows, such as a comfort watch, Say Yes to the Dress. I definitely do not regret subscribing it, and will be watching it all throughout the three day weekend.
Open Book by Jessica Simpson: I really didn’t know much about Jessica Simpson, but have been wanting to read her book. I got the book on audio, and it was read by the author herself. I have enjoyed reading her book so much. Reading it gave me insight on the entertainment industry back in the 2000s. It was such a good read, and I highly recommend the audiobook for all of the nostalgia.
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le: Y’all know how much I love a young adult romance novel. This one is a forbidden love story between Bao and Linh, whose parents own rival restaurants. The two are paired up on a school newspaper assignment, and the two begin to fall for each other. So far, I am really enjoying this book and hope to finish it this weekend.
As many of you (or I hope most of you know if you’re regular readers), I am a huge fan of reading. So, you can not imagine my excitement when I got the chance to interview an author.
Marissa D’Angelo has been publishing a ton of content as of late. Within the last year, D’Angelo self-published a short-story (Presence) and a memoir (Chasing Time — you can read my review on it here). She began her writing career with fantasy and mystery, however, her memoir is truly one of my favorite reads of the year.
D’Angelo took a few minutes to answer some questions about writing, and about her advice on writing and self-publishing. So, be sure to keep reading to learn more.
Photo Credit: Marissa D’Angelo
How did you get started with writing?
I started writing when I was in elementary school. It began with journals and then transferred into story writing as early as 5th grade. In 6th grade, I developed a screen play for my classmates to perform during our free time and I directed this. Then, this idea sparked a talent show for the 6th grade at my school by the end of the year. Ever since then, I have continued writing more and more.
Who are your biggest influences with writing novels?
Many people have influenced my writing. In particular, my great grandmother who I had never met enjoyed writing so much but was too shy to put anything out there. I feel like I get my love for writing from her. Growing up, my parents and I made many memories together by traveling all around. The experiences that I had helped to shape my love for writing and imagination. I mostly write fiction because of this. You can make it your own and that freedom means everything.
My first book, Deja Vu, came from a dream that I had. I started writing as soon as I woke up from this dream about a man in an old antique shop and thought how cool would it be if some of the dreams did actually come true and feel like Deja Vu.
I wrote Presence right after I lost my dad. I would go to Silver Sands each day to help me cope. I was busy writing apocalyptic books because of how I felt on the inside when a photographer came up to me at Silver Sands and asked me what I was writing about. He was quick to tell me about the mysteries of Charles Island and how he has caught many unexplained things on camera when he went over there. He begged me to write a book about Charles Island and at first, I hesitated. But eventually it was all I could think about and ended up writing it based off of a younger version of him as a photographer discovering the secrets of the island.
My most recent book, Chasing Time, is a non-fiction memoir. After losing many people in less than 2 years, I felt the push to tell my story so that others could not feel so alone. I also wrote this for myself to look back at someday. My grandmother has dementia and my stories help her to remember. If you had gone through bullying, grief & loss, or battled with having a family member that struggled with addiction, you will definitely be able to relate to this story. And just know that you are not alone in this.
What is the writing process like for you?
I mostly enjoy handwriting my books in a fresh notebook and eventually transfer it to a word document. I like to begin with the setting so that I can paint a picture for my readers. It honestly starts from one small idea and it just branches out. With Chasing Time, I wrote this in pieces and created a chapter outline. I knew I was missing some parts from the beginning and middle so I went back and put these in when I was ready to write them. Some of the chapters took me a very long time such as the one about losing my father. I felt like it was necessary to write about it as well as other painful chapters as they are part of my story.
What is it like to self-publish a book? And, can you please go into detail on the process to publish a book on Amazon?
I self-published all 3 books through Amazon. This is actually a very simple process. As long as the book is on a word document, you can alter the layout by changing the page sizes so that they will transfer to a book. I also saved my book as a PDF so that I could upload it on Amazon to submit it as a paperback. In terms of making it accessible through Kindle, there is a Kindle Create app that you download and basically import your word document into that. There are only a few fonts available for Kindle so it may change it a bit for you, but the entire process took just a few hours. Once you submit this, it takes about one business day for them to approve and officially publish it.
Photo Credit: Marissa D’Angelo
How was the writing process for Chasing Time different than the other books that you’ve written?
I absolutely enjoy writing fiction. So, when I wrote Chasing Time it was uncharted territory for me aside from writing journals, especially being that it was about my life. I thought about how much therapy had helped me to open up and started there. Then, I put each chapter into chronological order of my life. I also had to go searching for some of my diaries from the past because I knew there were some things I really wanted to include such as my entries when I visited Italy and how I felt when I was going through certain hard times.
Was it different?
Writing Chasing Time was extremely different for me than my other books as I was unable to make up the characters and imagine things as I would with my fiction stories. After writing each chapter, I definitely felt a release like I was glad that I got it off my chest.
Are you working on anything now?
Always! The writing just never stops. I figured that after my latest book, I would take a break but I am working on another nonfiction book and writing a few fictional stories. My next nonfiction is about a person who discovered my stories and was able to connect to them all and how it has helped them through their life. One of the fictional texts is a mystery. In this story, a group of people find themselves in a trance as they enter a church. When they become paralyzed and unable to move, the statues in the church come to life. The main character in this story is a detective and she is also a realist so she is unable to believe anything she sees, but eventually has to accept her fate as she goes down a certain path. I also plan to write a sequel to Presence. I won’t give away any details on this because I don’t want it to ruin the ending of the first book, but stay tuned.
What is your advice for anyone who is reading this who may want to write a book, but have zero idea on where to start?
My friend gave me very good advice before I started writing Presence. Just begin. Get a piece of paper out or open up your computer and just start writing. If you don’t like it, you can always start again but I feel like as long as you have that pen in your hand and you’ve gotten your start, it will all come to you. I made the mistake of putting my stories off for many years because I was thinking about it too much. Don’t make that mistake, you can come out with something great. 🙂
Be sure to check out Marissa’s website and her author page on Amazon here.
Growing up as a 90s kid, Disney was a staple in my household. I mean, 90’s Disney is so iconic with movies such as Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Sleeping Beauty just to name a few. Twenty years later, I still watch Cinderella at least once a month, and have quite a few Disney merchandise (including Grogu items).
I am currently 27. Since my mom died, I have been devolving into the vault of childhood favorites as a method of comfort and watch a few from time to time. I have Mickey Mouse Pandora bracelets. I occasionally go to the Disney store when I’m in the mall. In some ways, I guess you can say I am a Disney adult.
What is a Disney Adult?
According to Urban Dictionary, a Disney Adult is “a millennial adult, with or without kids, that can’t stop talking about Disney, including the movies and the parks. Even if they do have kids, they’re still way more obsessed with it that their kids ever would be.”
The Disney Adult debate has been huge on the Internet for years. There are articles on Her Campus, the Tab, and Buzzfeed — just to name a few.
Here is my take on it. An article on the Best Nest entitled In Defense of Disney Adults said it best – “adulting is hard,” adding that for most people “childhood was the last time that we felt at peace.” The article stated that “what Disney does for people is it takes them back to the childhood dream.”
And, I agree. Personally, I think it is best not to judge someone for loving something. I do think that if it impacts their daily live in an unhealthy way – failure to pay bills, neglecting responsibilities, etc. – then it becomes a problem worth taking a hard look at. If they are in fact doing those things, then I think that it is perfectly okay.
That said, everyone has their thing that they love to do in their spare time. For me, it’s a ton of different things. For others it’s going to the movies, hiking, and shopping. For these Disney adults, it is watching Disney movies and going to the Disney parks. There is that nostalgic factor of going back to the movies from childhood, and there is something about going to Disney World (or any park for that matter) and being a kid again.
Another argument is that many of these millennials who are going to Disney parks are childless and should make room for the kids. But, let me add this – Disney is marketed for those at every age. To put it in perspective, my 88 year old grandmother is obsessed with Frozen. I personally think that they should try to make sure that the kids have a good time, such as letting them get first dibs to give them the ultimate experience, but there is no age limit.
And, as for me, I think I will always be a Disney Adult or an adult Disney fan. I wear a bit of the magic on my wrists with Alex and Ani or Pandora bracelets. From time to time, I turn on Disney Plus and watch a few old classics. I follow Disney Content Creators on Instagram. For me, it’s a small reminder of the memories I made with my mom. When I was little, she took me to Disney World a few times, and when I was older and went to Disney on a school trip, she demanded that I bring her home a sweatshirt. It reminds me of the simpler days. However, I probably won’t take a lot of trips to the parks regularly, or rock a pair of Minnie ears on a day that’s not Halloween.
TGIF everyone! With pumpkin spice lattes on the menu at Starbucks and at Dunkin’, it is safe to say that it is one of the last weekends of summer. Or summer temperatures at the very least.
This week’s favorites is a lot of content related ones. I am trying to focus on sharing less products, so I am sure that there will be more of these in the coming weeks. That said, here are my favorites of the week:
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey: I downloaded the audiobook per the recommendation of Regan from Peruse Project, and I am obsessed with it. The book is a quicker listen, and is very entertaining. It is read by McConaughey himself, and tells his life story. I absolutely loved the book and highly recommend it if you’re looking for something good to read.
The Program/The Treatment by Suzanne Young: I found this book when I was strolling through the shelves at Barnes and Noble, and I became obsessed with it. It is a dystopian novel, that tells the story of Sloane, who is a teen who lives in a world where teen suicide is an epidemic. The solution is the Program, where Returners never return the same. These books are so addicting, and I enjoyed reading every single second of it.
The Happiest Podcast on Earth: Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Disney. So, I started to listen to this podcast. It talks about all things Disney, and it brings me so much joy to listen to. I highly recommend checking this podcast out if you’re Disney obsessed.
Nine Perfect Strangers: I loved the book, and now I am enjoying the show. It has such a great cast, from Nicole Kidman to Melissa McCartney. The show talks about strangers who meet at a wellness retreat. This retreat is a little dark, and mysterious especially the retreat owner, Marsha (Nicole Kidman’s character). I have to watch the newest episode, but I definitely recommend watching the show if you have the chance.
Pimple Patches: I am so lucky that I don’t suffer from acne. However, I do get hormonal acne, and I decided to give a set of pimple patches a try. At first, I was skeptical. Then, I tried it. And my pimple disappeared. The ones that I got were called lift off, and they were really easy to use. Needless to say, I will definitely use them whenever I have acne.
The fall menu — which yes includes the pumpkin spice latte– became available on August 18, 2021 at Dunkin’. This is despite the fact that the official start of fall is September 22. With the official start date of fall being over a month away, I can’t help but wonder if it’s just way too early for the arrival of a good pumpkin spiced latte?
I think so.
Now, hear me out. I love pumpkin spice. I am certain that I will be going to Starbucks a little more than usual now that it’s officially on the menu. However, it is still summer. This is similar to when Christmas decorations are appearing in stores, and it’s only mid-September.
I get the hype of fall flavors. The fall season is definitely one of the most romanticized seasons, next to Christmas. Therefore, I get the excitement. And, pumpkin spice lattes, muffins, and donuts are just plain ol’ delicious. They are a favorite for a reason. And, that is because they are delicious.
That said, I personally think that the fall menus shouldn’t hit until September. That’s around when kids go back to school. That is also when it’s truly fall. Summer needs to have its’ last hurrah before we kick it out while sipping on a PSL.
Lyman Orchards (you can read my post about when I visited there last year) for me is my go-to for all things apple cider donut related, I’m not going to lie. This year, I have been craving the opportunity to go to a sunflower maze. I have been drawn to a sunflower/farm maze for a while, so I dragged my boyfriend to go and check it out.
Lyman’s Sunflower Maze runs from July 31, 2021 to August 29. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children, and free for children under 3. $1 of the proceeds go to Connecticut Children’s. You can learn about the maze by going to their website here.
My boyfriend and I took a trip during the week on Tuesday, and had such a great time. This year’s maze honored Arthur, which is celebrating its’ 25 year anniversary. In fact, the maze is even shaped like Arthur, which is so cool to me since Arthur is one of my favorite shows from my childhood.
It honestly took us about a half of an hour to get through the maze, and yes, we did get lost during it. However, one thing that I thought was cool was that you get to pick some trivia questions to answer. My boyfriend and I picked TV, music, and movies. These questions are meant to help with directing you in and out of the maze, which I thought was really creative and helped make it more fun for us.
That said, I really enjoyed the chance to take a day trip. The area was beautiful, and it really filled me with so much joy to be surrounded with so many flowers. It was also a really unique date than what we have normally done, which I really like because it shakes things up.
Have you ever been to a sunflower maze? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy Friday everyone! I can not believe that it is Friday already. I’ve been on vacation pretty much all week, and even though it is a staycation, it is something that was well-needed. I am bummed that it’s coming to a close, but I am excited to have the freedom to just relax and work on some upcoming blog posts.
That said, here are this week’s favorites:
The Morning Toast: I have been obsessed with this podcast. It basically is a celebrity news podcast, which I have been enjoying the listen when I’m working, or doing other things. It’s entertaining, but it’s also been helpful for how I’ve been finding out new shows to watch or music to listen to. I have always loved celebrity gossip, so this is something that I’ve been enjoying.
Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams: This is actually my first bookclub book, and I have been enjoying the book thus far. It is about our main character Lena, who is on a journey to find out what happened to her deceased sister. I just started it yesterday, and I am already obsessed with it.
Apple Watch Band: I bought this Apple Watch band on a Lightning Deal on Amazon on a whim. I have been wearing it almost every day since. It is a leather band, and has leopard print pattern on it. It is super comfortable to wear, and goes with everything in my wardrobe.
Okay, can you believe that it is August already? August is definitely the saddest month in my opinion, because it means that summer is drawing to a close. I am a summer person through and through.
That said, this month I have been doing a lot of Amazon shopping. Some of it was because a shelf in my bathroom had fallen, and I needed to get a replacement. At that point, I decided to get a few new items to change around the decorations of it as well. I also purchased a new iPad Pro, and have purchased a new case and screen protector as well.
So, let’s talk all about my Amazon favorites:
Leopard Print Apple Watch Band: This was a lightning deal, and I impulse purchased this band without any hesitation. It came in on Sunday and I fell in love with it. It is a leather band (which is something that I really love), and goes with pretty much everything. The quality of the band is so great, and I am excited to wear it with many more outfits.
Leather Watch Band: I bought these last year at recommendation of Youtuber Catherine June, and I just started wearing these again. They are so affordable for leather watch bands, and they have really held up well. I have a few different colors, which is great to wear with different outfits.
Yoga Shorts: Yes, another Catherine June recommendation! I try not to purchase too many clothing items from Amazon, but these are an exception. They are $20, and are such good quality. I have the black pair and have been obsessed. They are great for working out in, or just to lounge around in. I have a feeling that I will be ordering a new pair of them soon.
Paper Screen Protectors: When I got my new iPad, I wanted to get a screen protector to protect the glass as I was using it to write with. I got these, and so far, I have been loving them. I use the iPad to write lists, and jot down notes, as well as coloring on Procreate. I have been enjoying these, and I highly recommend them if you’re using the Apple Pencil.
Mason Jars for Q-Tips: As I mentioned, I needed to revamp a section of my bathroom, and I decided to also grab these jars to organize my Q-Tips and my cotton balls. I love them already, and I have found it really helpful in staying organized in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Claw Clips: Amazon by far has the best deals on claw clips. I got these for 4 for $5. I have been using them for a few weeks now, and have been really loving them. I highly recommend checking out Amazon for all of your claw clip needs, because they are by far the most affordable, and they do hold up fairly well.
thenutmegmillennial.com 