Pizza Lyfe is Happiness by the Slice

Pizza by the slice is a New York concept that has made its way to Milford. Pizza Lyfe, which originated in Westport, has opened its second restaurant in downtown Milford. This brings the nostalgia and simple experience of an Italian deli abeetz.

What makes Pizza Lyfe unique is their sourdough crust on their pies. The crust is what drew me in with the crunchy exterior and soft interior — exactly like breaking open a loaf of sourdough bread. Biting into their pizza with that crust, that delicious herb tomato sauce, and ooey cheese makes a superb combo.

Pizza Lyfe offers pizza by the slice (aka a la cart) or by the pie. There is a huge variety of toppings one could get — from traditional such as pepperoni, eggplant, and veggie to more unique ones such as tri-color pizza (pizza with vodka sauce), Italian tuna, and a few different options of burrata.

Slices are readily available whenever they are open, and there is always a lot of options to choose from, as well as garlic knots. With a small little area of cold beverages, it is easy to get a slice, have it warmed up, and enjoy it with a cold beverage.

Unlike New Haven pizza, this pizza is a little thick and doughy. For someone who loves bread like me, this is an amazing option. However, if you’re someone who craves the charred, thin crust style of New Haven pizza, I am not sure if this is something that you would love.

However, there are more options than pizza. Their menu extends to sandwiches, pasta, calzones, and Italian dinners. Some items that stand out include: lemon grilled chicken (arugula, avocado mayo, roasted red peppers, and fresh mozzarella on a sesame Italian hero); chicken parm Stromboli, and tri-color tortellini Nonna (mushrooms, prosciutto, peas in a cream sauce).

There is nothing more New York than enjoying a slice, and I believe that Pizza Lyfe has successfully brought that concept to Milford.

June Favorites

Happy summer everyone! I am excited for the long weekend to begin. July is such a special month for me as both my anniversary and my birthday are in July. I also love the summer months, so I am excited to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine.

But before we do that, I want to look back at the favorites for the last month.

  • One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune: Carley Fortune has the best summer romances and this one was no different. This tells the story of Charlie, who was the brother of the male main character in Every Summer After. I loved his romance with Alice and I loved Alice herself. This is the perfect summer read, and I recommend that you check it out.
  • Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid: TJR. That is all.
  • Kelly Prepster videos: I’ve been obsessed with watching these studio vlogs. They have been so soothing and relaxing. They have also helped me get back into beading, which is my first crafting thing that I’ve gotten into.
  • Demellier New York Midi Bag: I got this in than and I’m obsessed with this bag. It is the perfect everyday size and I love that it’s a top handle bag. It’s also so chic. 10/10 recommend checking this out.
  • Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan: Kennedy Ryan is an autobuy author for me and this did not disappoint. I loved every second of Hendrick’s story and was hooked from page one.

2025 Mid Year Book Freakout Tag

It is officially the second half of 2025. Gulp. 2025 has not been the best reading year as of late, I’m not going to lie. I’ve been balancing reading with several other hobbies that I like to do on a daily basis, and therefore, my days of reading 10 plus books a month have been long gone. However, I did want to share my answers to the mid year book freak out since it’s so fun to do!

  • What Is the Best Book That You’ve Read So Far in 2025? I can’t pick between the Favorites by Layne Fargo and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
  • What Has Been Your Favorite Sequel of The First Half of The Year? Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams.
  • Is There a New Release That You Haven’t Read Yet, but You’re Really Excited To? There are quite a few, but I’d say Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall and Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston are definitely in the top two. I’m hoping to get to them this summer.
  • What Is Your Most Anticipated Release for The Second Half of The Year? Love Arranged by Lauren Asher for sure.
  • What Is Your Biggest Disappointment So Far? I’m not saying this because I didn’t like the book, but Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. I loved the book, but it was so different than what I was expecting and it didn’t hit as hard as her other ones for me.
  • What Is Your Biggest Surprise So Far? I would say The Song of Archilles by Madeline Miller. I read this on a train ride and I was not expecting to be completely locked into the book and the story.
  • A Book That Made You Cry? Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
  • A Book That Made You Happy? Ready or Not by Cara Bastone.
  • What Books Do You Want to Read by The End of The Year? Part of the point of having a TBR is to read all of them. But if I had to pick a few, it would be Sounds Like Love, Katherine Center’s latest, and Ali Hazelwood’s latest.

How has your reading year been?

June Fiber Faves

I can’t believe that this is the last day of June and the last day of the first half of the year. I’ve been nose deep in so many summer projects, and making so many different and fun amigrumi patterns, hence why there are so many different ones listed. However, before we reach the second half of 2025, I want to share some of my June fiber favorites.

  • Ami Sticks: So, my husband bought me these for Christmas, and I am just starting to break them out now. Oops. I love them. They are not an essential by any means, but they are so helpful when it comes to sewing projects. You can find a bunch on Etsy as well.
  • Jack Russell pattern: This is my favorite make of 2025 thus far. I got the bright idea to make this pattern, because I own a Jack Rusell named Lucy. I tailored this pattern to add more spots so she can look exactly like Lucy, and I am so obsessed. This pattern was so easy to work up, and I had so much fun making my best friend.
  • Labubu pattern: I don’t love Labubus. However, I do love this pattern so much that I am already making my second and definitely want to make a third. The best part of this is that I’m using all materials that I already have and busting my huge yarn stash.
  • Garfield pattern: I made this as a Father’s Day gift for my dad, who I remember liking Garfield. However, it was so cute that I decided to make my own. I loved this pattern. Garfield came out so cute, and he makes a great addition to my collection!
  • K and C yarn: I wish that I started to use this before Joann closed, because this yarn worked up so well. I used it to make a bag, and I really loved how it felt. I wish I stocked up on more yarn, and also that Micheals eventually obtains it.

What’s In My Bag Wednesday: Demellier New York Midi

Celesta, the TikTok handbag queen, posted a video of her opening this bag in the gorgeous tan color. Ever since then, this bag was on my radar. I ended up finding her on the RealReal for a fraction of the cost. I debated whether to go for it. Ultimately, I did and I’m so glad I did.

The New York midi bag is a similar design to a Birkin without the price. It comes with a strap that I personally love having, but I’ve seen many petite women opt to not use it. I also love how it looks top handle as well, but a girl loves her options.

So far, I think it’s a stellar RealReal find.

This bag is the perfect size. It looks bigger than it actually is, but you can still fit a lot of things in it. Here’s what I carry:

Interlinked Permanent Jewelry Becomes a Permanent Part of Milford

Interlinked Permanent Jewelry has been bringing everyday sparkle to events all across the state of Connecticut. However, they now officially have a new storefront for them to call home in the Walnut Beach area of Milford.

Interlinked officially had its grand opening this past Saturday, June 21. The storefront is every jewelry and fashion lover’s dream with both permanent and charm jewelry, and trendy pieces. The decor and vibes were fun and aesthetic— a perfect background to any Instagram post for a newly curated stack.

Let’s start with the brand’s bread and butter — their permanent jewelry. They offer everything that you love about getting a permanent piece of jewelry at an event — the necklaces, anklets, and bracelets. There is a huge selection of chains from classic to fun for both the gold and the silver girlies out there. With the addition of charms, it’s easy to create a one of a kind piece that is tailored to the person who wears it. This is something that I absolutely love about Interlinked.

Furthermore, the pieces are meant to be worn 24/7 and look good even after years of wear. For a permanent jewelry piece, Interlinked uses sterling silver and gold fill for every chain and charm.

The store will be open by appointment only Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, as well as walk-ins Thursday- Sunday. You can check out their website for their hours here and check out here for appointment information. Pricing will start at $45 for sterling silver, and $55 for gold fill. If you get a speciality chain it’s $10 extra and $20 for an iconic chain. Charms are an extra $10.

Owner Jackie is excited to have her own storefront and she says she’s “so grateful for the support” Interlinked has had so far. I’ve gotten linked by Jackie last September and I’m absolutely in love with the piece and the process. I’ve also gotten linked by her staff over the past weekend and they were wonderful to talk to. I had gotten an anklet and it fell off when I got home. However, they were quick to fix the issue for free.

If this store front is an indicator, Interlinked Permanent Jewelry will continue to grow.

“Super excited to finally have a place of our own!” Jackie says. “We can’t wait to continue to grow in our community.”

Is the Oura Ring Worth It?

It’s been almost two years since I started to wear an Oura ring. At the time, I purchased it to help me predict my unpredictable menstrual cycle. However, over the last few years, I have noticed that it has provided me so much more insight on my health and sleep than I ever could have imagined. Oura rings track activity, stress, sleep, menstrual cycles, and so much more.

Oura rings are priced between $199 to almost $400. They come in silver and black as well as rose and yellow gold for a higher price tag. I currently have the generation 3, which is the older one. At the moment, I have no plans on upgrading, because this one has done me no wrong. I have a size 10, which is one size larger than my index finger. Oura has a sizing kit that you can get, and you can get a $10 Best Buy gift card with the purchase.

I just want to get one thing out of the way about my review. This is not a tech specific or health specific review whatsoever. This is a review that is solely from the point of view of an average user trying to track their health.

There are quite a few things I love about this ring. This ring is made just to track sleep, and I have found so many insights from it. If you’re not getting a good night’s sleep for any reason, you’re able to go back in and program why that occurred, whether it’s travel or other.

The biggest for me is by far the ability to sync with Natural Cycles. I have been using the app Natural Cycles to keep track of my menstrual cycle data, and the Oura ring pairs seamlessly with that because it helps track my body temperature and syncs with Natural Cycles for information such as ovulation, when my period is going to arrive, etc.

The body temperature is also amazing to keep track of whether or not I’m going to get sick or not. I need to get better at noticing when I get sick based on the stats, as Oura notices it long before I show symptoms.

This ring is also an activity and a rest tracker. Yes, most activity trackers focus on making sure that you burn enough calories and take the amount of steps that you need to reach your goal. However, there is a “rest mode” that allows you to take the rest that you need. I love that it offers a holistic approach, not just burn all of the calories you possibly can. That being said, it does track activities, encourages you to move when it notices that you’ve been stagnant for a while.

As I’ve had this ring, more features have developed, such as stress and cardio statistics, something that I feel as though is very beneficial and informative. Through my ring, I am able to find out my V02 max as well as my cardio fitness age, which is something that I feel as though is super important as I get older.

Finally, something else that I love about this ring is the battery life. I forget to charge it a lot of the time, and it’s never run out of battery. Apple can truly never.

However, the biggest thing that I have an issue with thus far is the fact to be able to access all of the features of the ring, you have to pay monthly for complete access. Yes, the features are worth it; however, I do believe that since you’ve already paid for the ring, then you should be able to access everything without additional payment.

The second thing that I do not like this ring is that it scratches so easily. My ring looks like it has been through the wringer. However, I know that for something that has a smooth, shiny surface, that is due to happen. It does bug me, but I do know that it’s just wear and tear.

Overall, I have no complains on this ring though. It’s lightweight and has been something that I have worn everyday over the past two years. Do I think it’s worth it? Yes, I do, as it offers a complete picture of your overall health, and gives me much more insight on my body than I ever could have imagined.

Friday Faves: June 13, 2025

TGIF, folks. It has been a long week and I’m so happy that the weekend is at long last here. I am so excited to begin the weekend with a list of my favorites over the last few weeks.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune: This book was absolutely amazing and was the perfect book to kick off the summer reading season. It’s about photographer Alice who decides to spend the summer with her grandmother at the same lake that Alice would visit with her grandparents when she was a child. At the age of 17, Alice took a photo of a few teenagers. One of those teenagers was Charlie and his brother, Sam. Yes, that is the same that was the male main character of the novel, Every Summer After. It was amazing and I enjoyed every single moment of this book. I highly recommend that you check this out if you’re looking for an amazing read for the summer.

Dooney and Bourke Hobo Bag: I thrifted this bag and I’m so happy I got this! It’s one of those bags that you don’t have to think about. You just throw it on your shoulder and go. The materials are amazing too — their all weather leather is perfect for any season. 10/10 recommend.

Budha Girl Bangles: I’ve been wearing mine all week this week and I’ve been loving them. I’ve mentioned them on the blog before, and they still ring true. I love that they are silent and comfortable bangles and how they add a touch of fun to my outfit.

Teleties: I have been loving these hairties. I have been using them while working out and I keep a few in my purse. They don’t leave creases and they hold your hair so well.

Milford’s Mermaid Books Brings A Sea Of Stories to the Downtown Area

I took one step into Milford’s Mermaid Books, and I was greeted by the delicious and wonderful scent of books. Milford’s new adorable independent bookstore will be officially opening its doors on Saturday, June 14, 2025, just in time for the summer reading season.

The grand opening will be Saturday, June 14, 2025, and will be the kickoff of a great season of reading. The grand opening will have a special guest — Lynne Constantine, who is one half of the author duo that wrote the book The Last Mrs. Parrish.

This bookstore is a book lover’s dream from its merch to the books themselves. Sure, there were the standard sections, i.e. new, fiction, nonfiction, thriller, and romance, but it expands so much more than that. The #booktok and the Staff Picks section were my favorite parts of the store hands down, because they had several of my bingeable favorites, and books I never thought to pick up.

However, this store isn’t just for older readers — it is a heaven for younger ones as well. The children’s section was stocked with books, games, and stuffed toys. This would be heaven for a bookish child who needs to pick up a summer read before a beach day.

The overall vibe of this bookstore is a perfect fit for the downtown Milford community with a subtle nautical theme that is present throughout. An independent bookstore has been missing in the Milford community, and this now fills that void. That community aspect is something that is present in this store. I had an opportunity to chat with Kristen, the owner of the store, and she was a delight to talk to. We discussed books and the upcoming summer reads.

For me, a bookstore is not only the books that are sold but the bookseller, and I can see that present in Mermaid Books. Welcome to Milford, Mermaid Books. I can’t wait to see the stories that you will tell.

Can We Normalize Female Hair Loss?

Hair wash day for me is honestly my least favorite day of the week. Taking aside the time it takes to lather and condition my tresses, it is when I’m often trying to fight back tears of distraught in the shower when I have a handful of hair that fell right out into my hand.

I first experienced this hair loss last August, when my doctor switched my antidepressants from Zoloft to Prozac. A few weeks later, I noticed every wash day would lead to hair shedding in the amount of a Tree Hut scrub top and an emotional breakdown.

Once I realized that this was caused by Prozac, I was immediately switched to a different medication, and started to use Nioxin to have my hair grow back.

It soon felt as though nothing happened, that is until my doctor took me off of hormonal birth control pills. That was when what I like to call hair loss part two happened, thanks to my body mimicking postpartum symptoms.

When this happened, I asked my hairdresser to chop it. My hair, up until that point, was long still from my wedding. I couldn’t take the heartbreaking effects of watching my hair fall out. I also couldn’t handle watching it happen again, and looking at the mirror realizing that my hair was not as thick as it was on my wedding day.

She chopped it to my collarbone, and now, I have a bob. Getting it cut short was the best thing that I could have done, as it gave my hair the volume to cover the parts that were growing back thanks to my Nioxin complete treatment. Furthermore, since short hair does require more frequent cuts, it has caused my self esteem to soar in a time that it once plummeted.

Hair loss is something that is more common than I could have ever imagined. According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies show that 50 percent of females experience hair loss at some point in their lives. The causes vary, from hormones (whether it’s postpartum or changes), to stress, to genetics, underlying medical issues, medications — just to name a few.

However, thanks to Hollywood and social media, I feel that hair loss is something that is not as common as it truly is. In fact, I feel that the content that I’m consuming crams down thick, luscious locks down my throat, making me feel less beautiful and plummeting my self esteem.

To me, that’s similar to how skinny culture was in the early 2000s, where Hollywood had caused me to have the expectation that I need to be a size 0 in order to be accepted.

That being said, I’m writing this post to not only share my story, but to normalize the struggles for those who are going through hair loss. I recognize that my hair loss was milder than most, however it is still a horrible thing, no matter what the cause. There is no worst feeling than trying to not cry too loudly in the shower as you hold a clump of your hair in your hand. I can confirm that.

So, instead of pushing down extensions down our throats, let’s take a step back. If you’re going through hair loss for any reason, trust me, you’re not alone. Instead of trying to hide it, I urge you to try different ways to prioritize your hair health and growth— biotin, Nixon, talking to your doctor, serums, and so forth. For me, Nioxin system has been the game changer for getting my hair back to life.

As someone who is going through it, I can say this. That’s a healthier approach than feeling the absolute worst about something that you cannot control.