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Women Who Work: Natalie from Moonlit Stones

Crystal jewelry is one of my favorite types of jewelry. Natalie, the owner and founder of Moonlit Stones, has not only slayed the wire wrapped game, but also the social media game. She has over 13,000 followers on TikTok, and her Instagram is amazing as well.

In between posting amazing content and making jewelry, Natalie was so kind to answer some questions for me about her business. So read on to learn more!

1. How did you get started making jewelry?

I entered this world with an incurable addiction to arts and crafts and have dabbled in just about every artistic hobby. When I picked up wire wrapping though, I knew I had found my niche! A few years ago I hit a rough patch and unwired wrapping became a creative distraction or release. So wire wrapping stones and crystals in a way started as a self care hobby of mine, that grew into a business!

2. How did Moonlit Stones get started?

I originally started sharing my little creations on my personal Instagram story, and then I started getting into art festivals and pop up shows. September 2019 is when I officially launched the Moonlit Stones website for online shopping! Through the website, I have now been able to ship thousands of pieces to people all over the world.

3. You just celebrated two years of your shop. Do you still enjoy the
creative process of making pieces as much as you did when you first started?

YES! I love creating new wire wrap styles and working with new stones. There are definitely moments when I might not be feeling super creative, but that’s just part of being an artist. Sometimes it takes a little inspiration to get the creative juices flowing. I’m still just as excited to make an order today as I was 2 years ago though!

4. You are slaying the TikTok game. How has social media helped your business grow?

Social media has been an absolute game changer when it comes to growing my business. For instance, a single tiktok video I posted was viewed 100k times and brought in 200 orders alone! The thing I really love about tiktok and Instagram reels is that they can reach so many accounts that aren’t currently following you, and those accounts can all turn into potential customers. You don’t have to pay for sponsored ads or pay to boost a post for that to happen either! Paid ads are an awesome way to grow your business too, don’t get me wrong, but getting free organic exposure through tiktoks and reels is the BOMB!

5. Do you have a favorite platform that you like to use?

I love them all but if I were to pick a favorite, I would probably say Instagram. I have definitely had more success on tik tok with 14k followers now, but making the videos can be super time consuming. Instagram is typically easier with a quick photo post to the fern or on the story. Making a single tiktok video requires a great deal of planning and editing before posting.

6. How do you get ideas for social media content?

Sometimes I’ll hear a new song or a unique audio and get an idea for a video, or I might see a cool background and snap a few photos. I have found that inspiration can come from just about anywhere, so I always have my eyes open for new ideas!

7. You mentioned that you did art festivals as well. What is that like
for you as a creator? Where can people find out what festivals you
will be at?

I LOVE art festivals, and have 3 shows coming up in the next month! It definitely keeps me on my toes to make sure I have a fully stocked inventory for each show. For instance, I typically have around 300 rings created for each event because those are the biggest seller. I absolutely love sharing my pieces in person and meeting so many cool people at art shows. Plus I think it’s so fun to set up my displays and decorate my booth!
I post news on all upcoming art shows on Moonlit Stones Instagram page @moonlit.stones

8. Do you have advice for those who are looking to start a small
business online?

I love this question! I definitely have a few tidbits of advice, first and foremost: don’t be afraid to share your ideas! If you’re passionate about a craft or business idea, tell people about it, talk about it, and/or post photos of it. Put your ideas out there and see how they’re received. Odds are, someone will love it and that feedback will fire you up and give you the confidence you need to share it on a bigger scale.
Next, be willing to put in some SERIOUS hours. Being a business owner is basically a 24/7 time commitment. Growing and maintaining a successful business will require a whole lot of energy, dedication, patience, and persistence. That’s why being passionate about what your doing or selling is so essential.
Also, network and connect with other small business owners. There are so many great groups for entrepreneurs out there and those individuals are always down to help aspiring business owners! Being able to talk to someone who has experience building a website, growing a clientele, selling products, etc. is such a huge help. Plus, just having like minded people to hang out with it super refreshing!
Lastly, owning a business can be an emotional roller coaster at times, so always remember why you started and keep making magic.
You got this!

Be sure to check Natalie’s Instagram, TikTok and Facebook as well!

The 5 Steps I’ve Been Taking To Practice Better Self Care

Creating more time for self care has become a priority for me as of late. For me, self care is something that may not be the most glamorous (or even something that I don’t always want to do), however, it something that is necessary. That said, all of these have an overall positive impact on my days and my holistic health.

Working Out: I have gotten into the habit of working out daily to the point where I have to do something every day. Working out has become something that is just a part of my everyday routine, but I do sometimes have a hard time getting the motivation to actually do so.

Going for a Walk at Least 3x to 4x A Week: For the past few nights after dinner, I have been taking Lucy for a mile or so walk. This is great because it really has helped me get my steps in, getting some time in with Lucy and have time away from my phone. I also have been trying to get more walks in overall, whether that may be taking a walk on the beach on a Friday night or walking around with my boyfriend’s mom. Walking has been so helpful for me to unwind.

Meditation: I am a big fan of the Peloton app not only because of the spin classes, but also because of the meditation classes. I am a huge fan of meditation, especially before bedtime. It helps me unwind and avoid monkey mind so I can actually have a restful sleep.

Drinking Water: How many of us can say that they are drinking enough water? Yeah, I am not one of them. I have a few water bottles that have the times on it so I can remind myself that I need to drink water not only for my physical health, but for my mental health as well. And, when I do actually complete the challenges, I feel amazing.

Taking My Lunch Break: Taking breaks is something that I am working on more and more. It’s hard, but I found when I do take my lunch break or a break in general, I approach things much more refreshed.

Thriller Novels I want to Read This Fall

Welcome to the third day of Blogtober! I love this time of year, because it feels natural to curl up with a fantasy/thriller read. Thriller novels are one of my favorite genres of books, so I am definitely excited for this month’s potential TBR (I say potential because I always change my mind on what I am in the mood to read).

That said, here are some of the books I hope to get to this fall:

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Carrie by Stephen King
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Do you have any books you want to get to this month? Let me know in the comments below.

Fall 2021 Bucket List

It’s the second day of Blogtober, and today, we’re talking all about all things fall. I live in Connecticut, and in New England, fall is taken so seriously. This year, I want to try to do a lot more fun fall trips, and adventures. I also want to do some less exciting things, as well, such as watch certain fall movies.

So, keep reading to hear more about what I want to do during the fall 2021 season:

Go to Clyde’s Cider Mill: Apple Cider Donuts are my love language. I will likely have them almost every day between September until Thanksgiving. That said, I really want to go there to just try out the donuts and embrace all things fall.

Go Apple Picking: I go to Lyman Orchards every year to pick some apples and of course, apple cider donuts. This year, I want to do Apple Picking, but I also want to try a few different places in the area. I want to try to hit up Bishop’s Orchards as well. It is such a great experience apple picking, so I want to try to do so as much as I can.

Do a fall foliage hike: Fall foliage is gorgeous. This year, I want to spend at least one-two days hiking when it’s peak fall foliage season, whether it’s exploring new parks in different parts of the state or even my go-to Sleeping Giant in Hamden. I love taking photos, so this is especially exciting to me. Furthermore, it’s also a free activity to do, and since the temperatures are cooler, I can definitely take Lucy with me as well.

Have at least one Pumpkin Spice Latte: Yes, I am basic. But, it’s delicious in my humble opinion, so I wanted to spurge on at least one since I don’t always buy coffee.

Movies: Hocus Pocus. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Beetlejuice. Halloween has so many great choices for movies. I want to enjoy the vibe of a good fall movie with being super cozy.

What is on your fall bucket list? Let me know in the comments below.

Why Do I Blog? (2021 Edition)

Happy first day of October everyone! I figured I would kick off Blogtober by sharing why I started blogging in the first place, as well as my journey.

I officially became a blogger in 2010. I started a blog and started writing blog posts full of my insights of my daily high school life. I had always loved writing, and I knew that I wanted to have a career in writing. I figured by writing about my day to day life, I would have a space to grow as a writer. My best friend at the time started a blog as well, and we constantly used it to talk about our lives.

What I learned during that time is that you never know who is actually reading your posts. I remember my friend (who I had a crush on at the time), knew that I liked him based on the posts that I wrote. I was heavily inspired by Carrie Bradshaw at the time, and referred to him as “Mr. Big.” Yeah, I was obsessed with Sex and the City. He found out, and I basically had to learn the hard way about sharing too much on the internet.

Fast-forward a few years later, my blog began to evolve into the lifestyle blogger category. I was in college at that point, and remember sharing so many blogging insights with my friend. I also followed many lifestyle bloggers who were in college, and savored their experiences. I would blog about things that I would do in my day to day life, my thoughts about college, and probably my lack of relationship, since I was single during the majority of college. That blog was called Finding My Voice, which I stopped regularly blogging around April 2016.

This blog began around August 2016. At that time, I was going through a lot of changes. My ex-boyfriend broke up with me over FaceTime (classy, I know). I was about to graduate college that December, and had to find a job because I was a part-time student worker at that point. I was also working on myself a lot and dealing with anxiety. It was called Natalie’s Little Corner of the World, and I wrote non-fiction essays, some poetry, and even some musings about the 2016 election.

My blog remained small until 2019. In 2019, I began to watch a lot of lifestyle vloggers, which have helped me get a new sense of passion in my blog that I didn’t have since 2010. I started writing reviews, lifestyle posts like I did back in 2013, and of course, started What I Love Wednesdays (which is now Friday Faves). I began joining blogger groups, and even started a separate Instagram for my blog (follow me here, BTW).

Around COVID, my blog began to truly grow since I did it so frequently. During that time, I decided that I also wanted to start featuring small businesses in my day to day life as a Connecticut resident. I figured it was a great way to help them generate business in a way that wasn’t draining to my bank account. By interviewing businesses and featuring various restaurants and shops, my blog had become more and more of Connecticut features. Which I think is amazing.

That was when I decided to rename this blog to the new name that it is today — the Nutmeg Millennial.

So, after over 11 years of blogging, you may be asking, why do you do it?

For me, blogging has always been something I did for fun. I love everything about it — from taking photos to writing the posts, even though it’s sometimes really stressful (especially during Blogtober and Blogmas). I have made so many different connections during my time as a blogger, and I just love being able to write. I have a Bachelor’s in Journalism, which probably explains why I enjoy writing as well. Blogging for me has become a fun hobby — something that I will continue to do just because I love it.

With the rise of Instagram fashion and lifestyle bloggers, I have heard the phrase that “blogging is dead.” I disagree. I think that blogging is blogging, whether it’s writing a long post like this, or by sharing an Instagram post. I do think blogging evolved from the days of writing about my daily life, but I still think that there is value in blogging in things such as recipes, crafts, and work outs. I think that there are so many bloggers out there, and I am proud to call myself a blogger. Therefore, I will continue to blog for a long, long time.

Are you a blogger? Why do you blog?

A Walk On The Wild Side: How To Style Leopard Print

Leopard print is super on trend this year. I never thought that I would say this, but I am obsessed with it. I have a bag from Madewell that is leopard print, as well as a few shirts.

I recently purchased this top from TJ Maxx and it is the perfect thing to wear in the transition to fall weather. It is lightweight enough to keep me cool but warm enough for chilly mornings.

Now, leopard print is something that can be tricky to style. I tried them with a pair of olive pants, and I was obsessed with it. I can also see myself wearing this top with jeans for a more casual vibe, leggings (leggings go with just about everything), and black pants.

As for shoes and a purse, I kept it neutral with a Madewell Transport Bucketbag in English Saddle and Sperry boat shoes sliders. I think with a pattern like that, it’s best to wear neutral accessories so that the top has center stage.

Are you enjoying the leopard print trend? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday Faves: September 24, 2021

TGIF everyone! I am getting my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, so I am going to be facing a low key weekend. I have quite a few different products that I would like to share with you, so this post is a bit more product heavy this week. Here are this week’s favorites:

Tiffany Mini Double Heart Necklace in Tiffany Blue: I want to preface this by saying that I actually have had this necklace for over six years. It was a gift from my mom on my 21^st birthday, and I have gone through phases of wearing this a lot because it’s simple and goes with everything. I actually bought it into the Tiffany’s store to be cleaned this week. This necklace is on this week’s favorites because I am in the phase of wearing it a lot, and because it will always be one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. My mom and I went to the casino the day after I turned 21, and she bought me this to remember our trip. I love Audrey Hepburn, so that is why she got it for me. Later that day, I had won money the first time I played the slot machines, so I purchased the ball bracelet as well. I have since purchased the red necklace and the rubedo version so I can rotate them if I want to give this one a break.

New Music: I have discovered some new music that has been on repeat this week. One of my best friends has immaculate music taste, and they introduced me to a few new songs: Rumors by Lizzo and Cardi B, and F*** a Silver Lining by Panic at the Disco. I also have been loving the rereleased version of Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift and Breakdown by Demi Lovato and G Easy. I am excited to have a chance to expand my music library, and discover new songs.

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty: I love Liane Moriarty. She is a must-buy for me time after time. I just downloaded the e-book and I have been loving it. It tells the story of the Delany family, where the matriarch, Joy, has gone missing. The four children are trying to piece together what happened. I am about 40 percent in, but I can tell you that it is definitely worth the read, despite the slow start.

Mcthriftzie Videos: As many of you know, I use Poshmark to get rid of unwanted clothes, jewelry, and accessories from my closet. I stumbled across her videos one day, and I have been obsessed. Basically, she owns a Poshmark closet that is her full time position. Her channel consists of ship with me and thrift hauls. She makes money by going to thrift stores, and then reselling them. I find it interesting to learn how this works, and watch how she runs her business.

Madewell Knotted Crossbody Bag: Madewell purses are by far my favorite. This one caught my eye in the 20 percent off sale going on. I resisted. That is, until Nordstrom offered me some additional notes, and I was able to get $45 off. I love it so far, because it is a great grab and go bag. I can fit my keys, wallet, and phone. I highly recommend this bag, especially since it is essentially a wristlet with a crossbody strap.

My Takeaways from Christy Wright’s Take Back Your Time Live Event

Much of this blog and my brand has been focused on anxiety and balancing. In fact, one may argue that your twenties itself is a balancing act of itself. For a while now, I have been struggling to find balance in my life in many areas. I have come a long way from who I was when I started this blog, and I’d like to think I’ve gotten better as I got older.

Many of you know that I am a huge fan of Dave Ramsey and one day while listening to his podcast, I was listening to it, and heard Christy’s pitch for her new book, Take Back Your Time: The Guilt Free Guide To Life Balance. She was advertising a great deal for the pre-order, which included access to the live event, audiobook, an e-book, and the actual book. I got to watch the live, and I gained so much from it, that I wanted to share what I learned with my readers.

Real Balance Is Not an Even Spilt: Many of us – myself included – think that true balance is a 50/50 split or doing everything an equal amount of time. Christy said that is not the case, and the more that I think about it, the more that I agree that it is true. So, from now on, I am avoiding that mindset where balance is doing everything evenly.

Being More Productive Does Not Lead To Life Balance: We all can agree that we are doing too many things. In my case, it’s balancing a social life, working a full time job, managing my blog and it’s social media profiles, and cleaning the house. Christy pointed out that we can’t just do everything in every season of life. And, I couldn’t help but agree. I wake up so early as it is to balance working out and just to have a few moments of ‘me’ time before the day begins. However, I don’t need to get up any earlier just to achieve more throughout the day.

Life Balance Is Doing The Right Things At the Right Time: Previously, I alluded that we just can’t do everything and being more productive does not lead to balance. The alternative, according to Christy, is to do the right things at the right time. For instance, we may be in a season of life when we need to focus on one area instead of the other. An example in my own life is Blogtober. If you know what Blogtober is, it’s basically writing a blog post every day during the month of October. When you work full time, it can be tricky balancing other hobbies, so I know that I will be busy doing the two. I know that I will likely neglect some of my other responsibilities, such as house work, but I am okay with that.

Be More Present: Christy said that many people that who are more present are happier. Who knew? This means putting the phone down and living in the moment. For me, this means doing one task at a time and putting the phone down so I can enjoy a show or focus completely at the task at hand.

Protect What Matters So That the Calendar Represents What Matters: I made a list of the things that mattered. Mine included: making time for working out, Lucy, and self care, just to name a few. This way, I can focus on what does, and leave out what does not. That said, I still make sure my job always comes as a top priority, but I also want to protect the things I enjoy doing as well. For me, this means that if it conflicts with it, I will say no.

There Are Four Common Causes To Life Inbalance: Doing Too Much, Not Doing Enough, Doing the Wrong Things and Not Doing The Right Things.

Now, I have not read the book, and I am sure that I will get to it soon. That said, I highly recommend checking this book out, as I am sure that it contains content that has the same materials.

How do you have life balance? Let me know in the comments below.

Fall Decorating

This past weekend, I decided that it was time to bring out my fall decorations. I don’t decorate for every season, but fall and Christmastime are the exception.

Many of my décor items are ones that I’ve had since I started living on my own so I’ve had them for a few years. That, and a few of them are items that are handmade. These items include felt pumpkins from Target, a Rae Dunn pumpkin, a few throw pillows, and some signs that I scored from Homegoods a few weeks ago. Furthermore, I also have a few items that I painted from trips to paint ceramics a few years ago, and they add a great touch.

Additionally, I crochet pumpkins, so I am able to make quite a few of them without breaking the bank. You can check out the easy pattern that I have been using here.

Finally, the last thing that I do is add a touch of fall in my kitchen by adding fall themed mugs. I have collected (or hoarded as some may say) so many fall mugs, so I like to make sure that I can use them during the fall season. They always add a great vibe to the room as well.

That said, I wanted to provide tips for fall décor, as it could get expensive. The best bet is to go the handmade route if possible. The pumpkins I mentioned are great and inexpensive to make. If not, Target’s Dollar Section, Homegoods, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx are always great bets.

How are you decorating for fall? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday Faves: September 17, 2021

Happy Friday everyone, and cheers to the weekend. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the weekend. I am currently working on a home redecorating project, and I am so excited to continue working on them throughout the weekend.

That said, I didn’t want the weekend to pass us by without sharing some of my favorite things. So, without further adue, here are this week’s favorites.

The Lion King: Can you believe that before this week, I did not see the Lion King? Well, I am now officially obsessed and get the hype. I might also rewatch the movie again soon, because I am blown away about how amazing that it was.

JoJo Loves You Super Mini Stud Earrings: These earrings became my favorite this week. I purchased these a while ago, but just recently opened them. I became obsessed. The pair that I tried on was the lemonade pair, and I have since purchased the black and rose gold pairs as well. They come in a few different sizes, but the minis feel so comfortable on the ear lobe. And, they are soo affordable. Mine are the super minis, and they are $20. And, they are sterling silver posts with a Swarovski crystal. I already have my eye on a few different pairs, because they are amazing, fairly priced, and they do not irritate my sensitive ears.

New Music: I have discovered some great new songs, which have been on repeat. Those songs include: Butter by BTS, and Cut ToThe Feeling by Carly Rae Jepson. They both were discovered when I started to listen to the energy pop playlist on Spotify, and I have been obsessed. Lately, my music taste is all over the place, so it was nice to get some new music to shuffle in with old favorites.

Madewell Calf-Hair Medium Transport Bag: This bag is my favorite. I scored it on Nordstrom rack for $70, and it is the perfect size because it fits all of my things and then some. It goes with everything, and is on trend with the cheetah print. I also have a regular brown leather one, and I can not say enough good things about this bag.