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.
In the last few months, I have been really getting into drinking protein shakes, and teas. For me, they have become a great addition to my diet to help make sure that I stay hydrated during my intense workouts.
On Monday, I was in Milford getting my car serviced and decided to make a stop into Touchdown Nutrition. It is located on the Boston Post Road, and is just a few minutes away from the Downtown Milford area and the Milford connector.
Their menu is very typical of a shake and tea cafe, offering protein shakes and teas. However, what sets them apart is their variety. They have a larger variety of shakes than I’ve ever seen before, from fruity to chocolate. I had the birthday cake one, and I absolutely loved it.
But, what I really love about this place is their options for tea. They give you the choice of how much caffeine you want in it, which is something that I really enjoyed. I have a lower caffeine tolerance than I used to, so this allows me to stick to having as little as possible.
That said, what I really enjoy about their tea menu is their options for pre- and post workout teas. I often get very dehydrated from working out, and these teas have helped me boost my electrolytes and get rehydrated very quickly. I highly recommend trying those out if you work out a lot, or even on warmer days when it’s harder than usual to stay hydrated.
What I also like about them is their pricing. It is $8 for a 16 ounce protein shakes, and teas are about $5. If you do a shake and tea combo, they do take a dollar off as well.
Furthermore, what I really like about this place is their transparency. They were very up front about the ingredients, and the woman who made my drinks asked me what I needed the teas for. I really thought that this was a nice touch, because it showed that they wanted to make sure that their customers were happy with the product, and that what they were drinking was good for their needs.
Top Left to Right: Chocolate Cake Shake, Birthday Cake Shake Bottom Left to Right: Peanut Butter Oreo, Strawberry Lemonade Tea
Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Touchdown Nutrition, and I definitely will be making a visit again soon. If you’re interested in checking them out, please visit their Instagram page to stay posted on all of their weekly specials.
TGIF everyone! Today is the last day before my vacation and I am really excited for it. I have a few fun things planned, but for the most part, I have plans to relax, and get some housework and deep cleaning done. I hope to also get a head start on my fitness game as well.
Anyways, here are my favorites for this week:
Girls Gotta Eat: This is a podcast that I have been wanting to listen to for a while. It stars Ashley Hesseltine and Rayna Greenberg, and discusses dating in your twenties. I listened to two episodes, and I really enjoyed them so I want to definitely continue listening to them.
Love is Blind – After the Alter: I binged Love is Blind for the majority of quarantine, and I am so happy that there were more episodes about the cast. The three episodes discusses what life is like for the couples now, and of course, has a lot of drama going on. If you watched the original series, then you’ll love this.
Paramount Plus: I downloaded Paramount Plus last week, and I have been watching all of the reality shows/cartoons from my childhood/teen years that I was once obsessed with. I no longer have cable, so I subscribed to have some additional options for TV to watch.
Movies That Made Us: I discovered this show while listening to Girls Gotta Eat, and I watched the Dirty Dancing one. Basically, it’s a documentary series that goes behind the scenes of your favorite movies. Other than Dirty Dancing, they have Home Alone, Forrest Gump, and Pretty Woman – just to name a few. I highly recommend checking this out if you’re looking for something new to watch.
SV Decker Cancer Necklace: The zodiac trend has been real with me. I picked this necklace up on Sunday when I went to her store for the earrings listed below, and I have been obsessed ever since. It is silver and has the cancer charm on a disc. I love this necklace because it’s cute to wear on its own or stacked.
SV Decker Cancer Earrings: I bought these earrings this past week, and I have been obsessed with them ever since as well. They are small enough to wear on my second holes as well as my first. I got the silver ones, and I can tell that they are going to become a staple in my jewelry wardrobe. Both these and the necklace are no longer available on her site, so shoot Steffi a message on her Instagram page.
thenutmegmillennial.com 